This will be something to see:
A new bonus episode of “The Chosen” will hit theaters on Dec. 1, delighting millions of fans eagerly awaiting the show’s third season. The special will tell the story of Jesus’ birth through the eyes of Mary and Joseph and will also feature performances by Christian artists Phil Wickham, Maverick City Music, For King & Country and others.
“Christmas With the Chosen: The Messengers” is a direct-to-theaters episode shot entirely in secret and will have a 10-day run.
“The Chosen,” a series on the life of Jesus Christ available free via the app, has become a global phenomenon since its release in 2019, with more than 300 million views in over 190 countries. This year’s Christmas special marks the first time the crowdfunded show will be seen in cinemas. The special sold $1.5 million in sales in the first 12 hours, shattering Fathom Events presale records and prompting the distributor to add more than 450 additional viewing locations to help meet demand.
RNS interviewed director and creator Dallas Jenkins, who added:
When I discussed this episode with Father David Guffey, who consults with us, he said there are segments of the Catholic Church who believe Mary had no pain in childbirth, although it’s not official Catholic doctrine. That’s something on which I would disagree. So I portray Mary as having pain in childbirth and I portray her having a lot of fear as she’s approaching the birth. We make it a normal birth that a teenager and a young man would be experiencing by themselves in a stable. We now know, going into it, there will be a relatively small, but measurable, part of our audience that is going to be upset by that.
