The production of Season 6 of the global hit series THE CHOSEN became an intensely emotional and spiritually demanding experience for its lead actor Jonathan Roumie. As the series moved into some of the most dramatic and significant moments of Jesus’ story, Roumie revealed that the process of bringing those scenes to life left a lasting impact on him. The physical exhaustion, emotional strain, and psychological weight of filming the season created challenges unlike anything he had experienced before, but the cast and crew remained committed to completing the project with the hope that it would provide viewers with a meaningful and powerful spiritual experience when it premieres.

Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus in THE CHOSEN, recently opened up about the deep personal effects of filming Season 6, explaining that the experience continues to affect him even after production has ended. According to Roumie, the upcoming season will be unlike anything audiences have seen before because it shifts into a much darker and more painful chapter of Jesus’ journey.
After five seasons of watching Jesus portrayed as a compassionate teacher, healer, friend, and spiritual guide, viewers will witness a dramatic change in tone as the story moves toward His arrest, suffering, and crucifixion. Roumie explained that this transformation was extremely difficult not only for audiences to watch but also for the actors who had to emotionally and mentally immerse themselves in those events.
“For what we did with Season 6, it’s going to be pretty shocking for a lot of people,” Roumie shared while appearing on “The Lila Rose Show.” He explained that seeing Jesus go from someone familiar and comforting into a figure experiencing unimaginable suffering would create a powerful emotional impact for viewers.
The actor admitted that filming these scenes was the hardest experience he and many of his co-stars had ever faced. He described the process as mentally, psychologically, and emotionally overwhelming because actors had to place themselves into circumstances that required them to believe, as deeply as possible, in the reality of what their characters were experiencing.

Roumie explained that when performers fully commit themselves to portraying intense emotional situations, the mind can respond as though those events are actually happening. Because of that, the experience of reenacting the suffering of Jesus left a profound effect on him that continued long after filming was completed.
The actor revealed that he has been dealing with his own form of emotional trauma following the filming of the scourging and crucifixion scenes. He described the experience as something that still affects him today, although he emphasized that the difficult process was undertaken with a greater purpose — to honor the story being told and to serve what he believes is a meaningful spiritual mission.
Roumie has previously spoken about the immense emotional and spiritual pressure involved in creating Season 6. In an interview with USA Today, he described the filming process as the most challenging work he and many other actors had ever done. He explained that the experience was not simply about acting, but about entering into the suffering of the character in a way that allowed him to deliver a performance that felt genuine and authentic to audiences.
For Roumie, portraying Jesus during these final moments required a level of emotional commitment that was both painful and deeply personal. He explained that there was a sense of connection and shared suffering involved in the process because he believed he needed to go to a certain emotional place in order to honestly represent such an important moment in history.
The actor also admitted that the experience was not something he would want to repeat. While he considered the opportunity meaningful and sacred, he described the filming as extremely difficult and emotionally exhausting.
He noted that the impact of Season 6 comes from the fact that audiences have spent years building a relationship with these characters. After watching Jesus interact with His followers, teach, heal, and bring hope throughout previous seasons, viewers will now see the immense suffering that surrounds His final days. Roumie warned that the emotional impact will extend beyond Jesus himself, as every major character will be affected by the events unfolding in the new season.
In 2025, Roumie also shared his feelings with fans through an Instagram post while filming one of the most significant scenes of the entire series — the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He described the moment as one of the most sacred, painful, and defining scenes in human history, admitting that it was far from a normal day on set.
Roumie explained that filming the crucifixion was not simply another acting assignment. He described the experience as heavy, humbling, and deeply meaningful, emphasizing that the emotional responsibility of portraying such a moment was something he approached with seriousness and respect.

Despite the hardships faced during production, the cast and crew continued forward with dedication, believing that the result would offer viewers a powerful and spiritually enriching experience. Season 6 of THE CHOSEN is expected to premiere in the fall, bringing audiences into one of the most emotional and significant chapters of the series so far.