Since its debut, The Chosen has captivated audiences worldwide, bringing the story of Jesus and his disciples to life in a way that feels both fresh and deeply personal. Unlike traditional biblical adaptations, the series takes a character-driven approach, focusing on the individual struggles, doubts, and triumphs of those who followed Jesus.
As the show enters its highly anticipated fifth season, actor John Xanthis (who plays John) shares an inside look at what it’s like to bring these biblical stories to the screen, the unexpected lessons he’s learned along the way, and what fans can expect as the series continues its journey toward the crucifixion and resurrection.
Listen to the full interview
The full interview in English with expatriate actor George Xanthis who gives us an inside look at what it's like to bring these biblical stories to the screen
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Like many actors, he auditioned without fully realising the impact the show would have on audiences—or himself.
Initially, Xanthis wasn’t deeply familiar with biblical stories, but the audition process helped him connect with the character in a meaningful way.
You almost had to get a yellow card. We were giving ourselves fantastic yellow cards for delaying the turn because we were laughing so muchGeorge Xanthis
The casting team saw something in his performance that embodied John’s fiery passion and unwavering loyalty to Jesus.
Now, five seasons in, Xanthis has fully embraced the journey, bringing depth and relatability to one of the most well-known disciples in history.
Laughter at the Last Supper
While The Chosen is known for its deep and moving portrayals of biblical events, there are moments of levity on set. Xanthis recalls a particularly memorable moment while filming the Last Supper scene. A small exchange between him and Jonathan Roumie (Jesus) turned into an uncontrollable laughing fit, forcing the actors to take imaginary “yellow cards” for delaying production.
”I know Jonathan really well. We're very close off set. I know when he's forgotten his lines and I know when he knows his lines, he forgot. And so he leans over to me and as Jesus, I can hear Jonathan speaking 'cause he goes, uh, um, I think, uh, and just hearing him stumble on the lines, I just went.
And me doing that little laugh. He then did, he did like a mutley laugh if anyone knows wacky races. He was like, I heard him wheezing, laughing. I looked at him and he was bursting. He was in tears, laughing. We were trying to keep it together. Meanwhile, the rest of the table can't 'cause the camera's on everyone else.
They can't hear us, they can't see us. Meanwhile, we think we've ruined the shot and we're like, we're laughing. Oh my God, what do we do? And this is all at the last sup. So we feel like this big, like serious moment and we're laughing in the corner and they yelled, cut. And then everyone kind of looked at us and going, what's what happened over here?
And then I'm like. I can't explain it. And Jonathan was laughing and for the rest of that night we couldn't keep a straight face. We almost had to like, you know, you get like a yellow card. We were giving ourselves imaginary yellow cards because we were holding up filming 'cause we were laughing so much”.
One of The Chosen’s greatest strengths is its ability to make biblical stories more accessible by shifting the perspective away from solely Jesus’ viewpoint.
“Instead of just seeing everything from Jesus’ perspective, we see the struggles of people around him—people with debts, outcasts, those who feel unworthy. These are relatable struggles even today.”
Rather than solely focusing on scripture word-for-word, The Chosen adds depth and context, allowing modern viewers to connect with the humanity of those who lived in first-century Israel.
When asked which character he’d swap roles with, Xanthis offers two answers. The first is Zebedee, because of his love for actor Nick Shakur’s performance. But his controversial pick? Judas.
Jesus taught love instead of revenge, and it is a message that is so relevant todayGeorge Xanthis
“Luke Dimyan (Judas) brings this incredible Anakin Skywalker-style transformation to his character. Season 5 is when Judas really ‘breaks bad,’ and I can’t help but admire the complexity of that.”
One of Xanthis’s biggest takeaways from playing John is the theme of love and unity.
“There’s this moment where Jesus rebukes James and John for wanting to call fire down on the Samaritans. The show really dives into why Jesus taught love instead of vengeance, and it’s a message that’s so relevant today.”
What to Expect in The Chosen Season 5
Season 5, premiering on April 10, takes a deep dive into Holy Week, covering Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the increasing tension with the Pharisees, and the political unrest caused by his growing following.
“A lot of previous films condense Holy Week into a few key moments, but we explore every detail. From the Romans seeing Jesus’ rise as a potential threat to the Pharisees’ fear of Roman backlash, the show presents a nuanced perspective on why certain groups made the choices they did.”
The expatriate actor George Xanthis with Stergos Kastelloriou in one of the SBS studios
“Season 6 will focus on the crucifixion, and Season 7 will cover the resurrection. There’s still so much left to explore.” he said.
The series, which was also created with crowdfunding and is considered the most successful project of its kind, continues to break new ground in biblical storytelling.
With some 280 million people having watched it worldwide, The Chosen has achieved another record, with a third of those who watch it declaring themselves non-religious.
