How Jonathan Roumie’s Role in The Chosen Deepened His Faith and Inspired Millions
Jonathan Roumie, the actor who has brought Jesus Christ to life for millions through the hit series The Chosen, sat down with Tucker Carlson to share the extraordinary story of how he landed the role—and how it has transformed his life and faith. What began as a modest acting gig for a friend’s church project has blossomed into a global phenomenon, reaching an estimated 280 million viewers worldwide. For Roumie, it’s more than a role; it’s a calling that has deepened his relationship with God and inspired countless others to explore their own faith.
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A Reluctant Jesus
Roumie’s journey to portraying Jesus started years before The Chosen was even a concept. Between 2014 and 2017, he worked with director Dallas Jenkins on short films for Jenkins’ church in suburban Chicago. The first time Roumie played Jesus was in a 25-minute film called The Two Thieves, which explored the lives of the men crucified alongside Christ. Initially, Roumie auditioned for the role of the Penitent Thief, a character with a compelling arc. But after a callback, Jenkins asked him to read for Jesus—a role with just five lines.
“I thought, ‘Oh man, I didn’t get the first role,’” Roumie recalled. “But I’d played Jesus six months earlier for a completely unrelated project, so I thought, ‘This could be cool.’” Jenkins, however, saw something more. “Ten seconds into the audition, he’s like, ‘That’s Jesus. That’s my Jesus,’” Roumie said. The film premiered at a Good Friday service, drawing 15,000 attendees over a day and a half. Its success laid the groundwork for what would become The Chosen.
Fast forward to 2018, when Jenkins pitched Roumie on a crowdfunded TV show—four episodes that “probably wouldn’t go anywhere.” Roumie jumped at the chance, having grown comfortable in the role after multiple portrayals. Little did he know, those four episodes would expand into a full season, released in 2019, and explode in popularity during the pandemic when the team made it free on The Chosen app. Today, the show has a deal with Amazon for exclusive streaming after theatrical runs, with Season 5 set to hit theaters on March 28, 2025.
The Weight of the Role
Playing Jesus, the central figure of Christianity, is no small task. Roumie admitted to feeling the weight early on. During Season 1, while filming a scene where Jesus preached to a growing crowd, he was struck by a wave of unworthiness. “I’m saying these words—hearing myself say them—and I don’t feel worthy,” he told Jenkins, pausing production in a near-panic. Jenkins’ response was a turning point: “Brother, none of us are truly worthy, but here we are. We’re doing this so the world may know His story.”
That moment, Roumie said, settled his spirit and reframed his purpose. “For whatever reason, God saw fit to put me in that role,” he reflected. Raised in a Christian home—baptized Greek Orthodox and later confirmed Catholic—Roumie’s faith was already a cornerstone of his life. But playing Jesus has drawn him closer to the Church, deepening his understanding of its history and traditions. “It’s forced me to spend more time in the presence of God,” he said, citing prayer challenges with the Hallow app, where he’s a key voice, as a vital part of his spiritual growth.
Fasting: A Forgotten Power
One practice Roumie credits for heightening his spiritual awareness is fasting—a tradition he believes has faded from modern Western consciousness but remains potent. “It’s like a superpower level you’re given when you deny yourself with the intention of offering something up to God,” he explained. He’s seen its effects firsthand, from personal breakthroughs to prayers answered for others, like a comatose friend who awoke after a day of fasting.
For Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday (coinciding with the interview’s context), Roumie fasts on Wednesdays and Fridays, often limiting himself to water, fish, or broths. “It recalls Christ’s 40 days in the desert,” he said, emphasizing its role in preparing him for each season of The Chosen. This year, he’s guiding Hallow’s Pray 40 challenge, themed “The Way,” alongside Mark Wahlberg and Chris Pratt, who tackle the spirituality of fasting. “It affects change like few things do,” he told Carlson.
A Countercultural Movement
The Chosen isn’t just a show; it’s a movement. Roumie sees himself as a “media apostle,” part of a growing wave of faith-based storytelling that prioritizes quality and authenticity. While the series takes creative license—crafting plausible backstories with input from biblical scholars—it remains rooted in the Gospels. “We’re not saying this is the Bible,” Roumie clarified. “It’s a TV show based on the Gospels, compelling enough to hook you and make you ask, ‘What did Jesus really say?’”
The impact is undeniable. Fans have shared stories of returning to church after decades, seeking confession, or discovering faith for the first time. “If it goes beyond entertainment for some people, awesome,” Roumie said. Yet, success has its challenges. Recognized as the face of Jesus, he navigates intense public encounters—sometimes needing a hood and glasses in grocery stores—while striving to stay grounded. “I give God all the credit,” he said. “I’m just Jesus’ stand-in.”
Facing Persecution
Roumie’s work extends beyond The Chosen. He recently executive-produced The 21, an animated short about the 2015 martyrdom of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya by ISIS. Refusing to deny their faith, they were executed, yet their families expressed joy, thanking their captors for sending them to heaven. “These stories exist,” Roumie stressed, highlighting the ongoing reality of Christian persecution—a cause close to his heart as an Arab Christian descendant.
Meanwhile, the Hallow app, which he champions, faces its own battles—banned in China and stifled in Europe by Meta’s restrictions on faith-based advertising. “Why is that a threat?” Carlson asked. Roumie wasn’t shocked. “When you read stories of people smuggling Bibles into countries, underground churches—it’s not surprising,” he replied, pointing to historical resilience like that of Takashi Nagai, a Nagasaki survivor whose story features in Hallow’s Lent challenge.
A Living Faith
For Roumie, the Gospels are alive, offering answers in moments of struggle. “You can flip to a random page, and the answer’s right there,” he said. Playing Jesus has taught him to rely not on himself but on Christ, showing up with an open heart and letting the Holy Spirit work through him. “If it changes one person’s life, it’s worth it,” he concluded.
As The Chosen continues to thrive and Roumie’s voice echoes through Hallow, his mission is clear: to reflect the divine, one soul at a time.
Watch the full interview with Tucker Carlson for more insights into Roumie’s journey, and explore The Chosen and Hallow’s Pray 40 challenge to experience the faith that drives him.
