How Jonathan Roumie deal with expectations in portraying Jesus in ‘The Chosen’

Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in “The Chosen” TV series | Image: Contributed photo

American actor Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in the TV series “The Chosen,” shared how he managed expectations that come with playing such an influential character.

While admitting that he has not had to deal with that many expectations, Roumie said the entire team’s commitment to excellence helped them tell a good story about the world’s prominent figure.

“I don’t know that I had many expectations from anyone. All we sort of pretended to do is to tell a really good story with the level of excellence that we had come to appreciate from second media or our favorite TV shows,” Roumie told INQUIRER.net in a roundtable interview with select members of the press on Friday, Nov. 22. 

“I think our commitment to that excellence to make every season better than the season before has, I think, helped bring audiences to the show that would have never even sat in front of a television with a show that’s about Jesus,” he continued.

The 50-year-old actor emphasized that it’s only fitting that God receives the most accurate portrayal on screen. 

“I think God deserves the highest level of excellence. As artists, Christians, and believers, we owe that to Him, especially when we are putting his name out there and introducing him to many people,” he stated.

Roumie, who said that playing the role of Jesus changed his life, also reflected on the aspect that he believes that is most misunderstood about the latter’s life. 

“I think people mistake Jesus’ love by reducing it to the word or concept of kindness. Jesus wasn’t just kind to people. He loved people, and if that meant they needed some correction in their lives, especially the deep sinners, He would give that correction. And I think sometimes in modern society we have this tendency to be slightly reductive of Jesus and what He stood for. He wasn’t just being kind or being nice. He was loving,” he explained.

“To will the good of the others, willing the good of somebody else, and especially when it came to people you disagree with, still finding the ability to love even the people who prosecute and criticize you, and that’s one of the most profoundly and difficult concepts to be at ease with, especially today. If we saw that teaching being played out in politics, culture, and society, the world would be a very different place,” the actor added.

Roumie recently visited the Philippines to attend a fan meeting and led the red carpet and special screening of the Christmas special, “Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night,” which will exclusively open at SM Cinemas on Dec. 11.

With its fifth season set to premiere in April 2025, “The Chosen” has become a hit on streaming platforms. Created by Dallas Jenkins, the crowd-funded series about the life and ministry of Jesus has amassed over 253 million viewers and 800 million episode views worldwide.