Dallas Jenkins has indicated how huge this livestream is for the show, but it's also a major announcement for 5&2 Studios. He calls it his first and BIGGEST livestream of the YEAR!!
Contents of the livestream:
- Tickets for S5 are available!
- They have a "The Chosen Adventures" sneak peak!
- Annie Leibovitz photographed The Chosen's promo pics at Times Square
- Highlight Reel for their appearance at Times Square
- Season 5 trailer is coming on Thursday Feb 20th at 10AM EST!
- Go to TheChosenLastSupper.com to get tickets or learn more
- S5 (Part 1) is available in US on IMAX on March 28th, other dates/places available on site
- After S5 screens, you can binge the entire season in a special Palm Sunday screening.
- Give to ComeandSee.net to donate to the show
- BIG NEWS: Amazon's Prime Video is hosting the entire The Chosen Universe on their platform, exclusively
And you are free to see the click-baiters complaining that this will cost them money, and that we should all be offended. Be my guest.
Or, you can see this here...
Yes, this means that some of our recent news stories, such as The Wonder Project's House of David is related to this Prime Video expansion. And here is how... Prime Video is proving to be a major partner for the "biggest" faith-based content in the world.
Surprised?
That "biggest" content includes intellectual properties from The Chosen Universe, The Wonder Project, and Kingdom Story Company. These newer faith-based corporate efforts have now successfully dwarfed once-popular streamers like PureFlix, upTV, Great American, and more (that now only champion that well-trodden faith-based Hallmark formula we've seen for twenty years).
I totally agree with this claim. Not only do I agree that these "bigger" players are more successful efforts, financially, but their work also represent a more successful faith-based formula, culturally, and artistically.
I'm not saying it's the best. Only that it's better.
The Chosen Universe includes The Chosen, The Chosen Adventures, The Book of Moses, Bear Grylls' The Chosen In The Wild show, and other shows mentioned here (in this previous story about 5&2 Studios, subscription required).
Jon Croft
The Wonder Project produces House of David, but also has many Hollywood industry-players that may or may not deviate from the older faith-based formula. This is as yet unknown, but so far their newer projects do not seem to deviate too much from the feel-good fare.
And Kingdom Story Company also. KSC, run by Andrew Erwin, who has successfully challenged many faith-based formulas in the past (The Best Christmas Pageant Ever), while it also remaining loyal to some standard faith-based tropes (Jesus Revolution, American Underdog, I Still Believe, The Jesus Music, Unsung Hero, Ordinary Angels). That is, they make lots of biopics, including sports biopics, music biopics, & the traditional sappy stories, as well.
Some mixed results, but far better than the PureFlixes, the God's Not Deads, and the Left Behinds.
Back to the deal with Amazon.
This deal also appears to include some additional product launches to assist in making bigger & better marketing pushes for franchises, including the various shows' theatrical and streaming releases.
It looks like Amazon algorithms & Hollywood-quality marketing will be at their disposal, which could be a big deal for them. I mean, Amazon may end up releasing EVERY Chosen Universe show and film into the future, if their partnership proves fruitful.
We will see.
But what about their promise to keep the show available to a billion people without cost?
Therefore, this begs the question: What about the exclusivity of their deal? Will this translate to a cost for those not subscribed to Prime Video? Don't let the complaining click-baity articles fool you. Because, just because they say it's exclusive, it doesn't mean it's as restrictive as you might think.
No. It means that, after theatrical release, Prime Video gets the first exclusive streaming "release window" (which costs money), but after that it goes to 'The Chosen App' for FREE. This is using what is called a "release window," and this method of distribution has been used by the film studios to roll out film releases for decades. The simple way it works is to offer the same product for cheaper at each successive stage of release, each one being called a release window.
Common release windows are: niche theatrical, wide release theatrical, exclusive platform streaming debut (often including a digital rental option), SVOD digital release, AVOD platform release, DVD (physical copy) release, etc.
There are many creative release windows for media, including tv and films, and this always goes into a film's distribution and marketing strategy (P&A budgets, press junkets, and all).
All it means is you have to wait a bit longer (to see it) if you don't want to pay for the more eloborate release window. So, you might decide to not see it in theaters, or on Amazon, and that's a perfectly good option for most people.
The obvious difference between this and Hollywood, is that Hollywood would never offer it for free at any point in the release, but instead offer it on DVD or SVOD/AVOD streaming later... but Dallas Jenkins will. That's what their app and the Come and See Foundation does for us (and for them). It allows them to fulfill those promises.
In addition to fears of cost increasing, other fears can be assuaged that the Dallas Jenkins' creative control on the show will not (and cannot) be infringed upon by Amazon according to this deal. He says they actually took less money for their deal so that no creative license would ever be infringed.
In that, they hope that you will always get a great show and can always know that the show will keep it's commitments to story intact. Even though this is Amazon– a platform that has butchered JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, in the past.
Very impressive, I must say– that is, IF it turns out to be true. But at this point, I see no reason it wouldn't be, since it appears that many in Hollywood are beginning to learn the error of their ways (at least at first glance).
Deadline reports on this deal here.
Anthony D’Alessandro
This does mean that they still need funding completed for seasons 6&7, so keep that in mind when they are asking for donations at Come and See. This is why you'll keep seeing them ask for money. Not taking much money from Amazon is part of this, but also the greater demands on their show to do more, so they can meet their "Reaching a Billion" goal.
It's comforting to see they've thought of this.
In the livestream, Dallas Jenkins does this by having Prime Video's head of global television on (Vernon Sanders), and senior creative executive (Tracey Blackwell) on to discuss the future of The Chosen and their worldwide Prime Video brand streamer. They hope to communicate, I think, that Amazon has immense confidence in the faith-based audience, especially as a consistently supportive audience. So, they certainly work to make this known and seem to really care to build bridges in this relationship.
Cautiously optimistic.
So, again, March 28th is the date of release for The Chosen Season 5 IN THEATERS. Which is just about a month and a half from now. This is quite exciting!
The Chosen Adventures is scheduled to be released sometime in 2025, but no exact date yet. The Adventure Box (as they call it) and additional information are at thechosenadventures.com.
Season 6 starts filming in late April, early May, while Season 5 is still in theaters. It covers the 24 hour period during Christ's arrest, beating, and crucifixion. An entire season of this incredibly important day for mankind, the day we crucified our Lord. It could be the most important and controversial television, ever.
Get tickets for the upcoming theatrical release, here.
Powster
Wish you could do more?
You can. Be an extra!
To participate in future scenes as an extra on set go to ComeandSee.net/extra.
You can donate!
Donate to future seasons here.
Or buy gifts!
Go to TheChosenGifts.com to buy gifts there.
.....
Are you excited for The Chosen & The Chosen Universe to make it to Prime Video, to go around the world on streaming, to get to theaters more effectively, and to keep creative control? Let us know down below (with sub) or on our social media by clicking below!
Many Show Concern About Prime Video's Major Distribution Paths for 'The Chosen Universe' https://t.co/RNS22dtNcu
— Media Moses (@themediamoses) February 20, 2025
