As production on the seventh and final season of The Chosen moves forward in Summer 2026, the biblical epic created by Dallas Jenkins is preparing to deliver its most emotionally explosive chapter yet. Season 7 is set to cover the monumental aftermath of the Crucifixion, focusing on the Resurrection, the physical appearances of the risen Christ, and the earliest foundations of the Apostolic movement.
However, amidst the excitement surrounding behind-the-scenes set footage and cast updates, a shocking revelation has sent tremors through the global fanbase: Shmuel, the fierce Pharisee played with intense nuance by Shaan Sharma, is reportedly absent from Season 7 production.
For six seasons, Shmuel served as one of the show’s most complex and compelling primary antagonists—a zealous guardian of Jewish law whose dogmatic obsession with protecting the Torah placed him in direct conflict with Jesus of Nazareth. To hear that his journey may have reached a sudden end before the final curtain falls has ignited intense speculation across social media platforms, online forums, and fan podcasts.
Is Shmuel’s reported departure the result of an unannounced cast exit, or was his absence intricately designed from the beginning to serve a higher narrative purpose in the Resurrection era?
The Journey of Shmuel: From Relentless Prosecutor to Tormented Believer
To understand why Shmuel’s absence in Season 7 is such a massive narrative shock, one must look at how vital his character arc has been to the structural backbone of The Chosen. Introduced in Season 1 as a young, ambitious Pharisee in Capernaum, Shmuel was the first major religious leader to launch a formal investigation into Jesus’s unauthorized Sabbath healings.
Unlike Roman officials who viewed Jesus merely as a potential civil nuisance, Shmuel viewed Jesus through a strictly theological lens. In his eyes, claiming divine authority was a dangerous heresy that threatened the entire religious framework of Judea.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SHMUEL'S EVOLUTION ACROSS SEASONS │
└────────────────────┬─────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
▼ ▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ EARLY SEASONS │ │ LATER SEASONS │
│ • Zealous Pharisee investigating Jesus │ ───────────► │ • Cracks in theological certainty │
│ • Rigid enforcement of Torah tradition │ │ • Devastating guilt over arrest plot │
│ • Viewing Jesus as a dangerous heretic │ │ • Conflicted desire for divine truth │
└──────────────────────────────────────────┘ └──────────────────────────────────────────┘
Yet, as the series progressed through Seasons 4 and 5, the writers gradually peeled back Shmuel’s dogmatic exterior. Viewers watched his unwavering certainty begin to fracture. Moments of genuine vulnerability—such as his quiet, private prayer alongside Jesus in Season 4—hinted that Shmuel wasn’t motivated by pure malice, but by a terrifying fear of being wrong about God.
By Season 5, as the Sanhedrin’s plots intensified and the tragic march toward Holy Week became unavoidable, Shmuel found himself caught between his loyalty to the religious establishment and his growing, internal dread that he had helped persecute the true Messiah.
Behind-the-Scenes Clues: What Caused the Sudden Exit?
Rumors surrounding Shmuel’s departure gathered momentum when sharp-eyed fans began analyzing recent behind-the-scenes footage and cast rosters from the Season 7 set in Texas and Utah. Key actors portraying Sanhedrin members, Roman authorities, and Apostles were repeatedly spotted filming pivotal scenes, yet Shaan Sharma was conspicuously absent from group read-throughs and set vlogs.
The central mystery dividing the fandom comes down to two major possibilities:
1. A Creative Narrative Decision
Did Dallas Jenkins and the writing room conclude Shmuel’s story during the devastating climax of Season 6? In biblical history, the trial and execution of Jesus shattered many within the Sanhedrin. If Shmuel’s arc reaches its peak at the cross—where he witnesses the fulfillment of prophecy and realizes the magnitude of his error—his story may have achieved its tragic or redemptive closure before Season 7 even begins.
2. Off-Screen Scheduling and Production Realities
The Chosen features one of the largest ensemble casts in modern television history. Managing multi-year contracts and actor availability across seven long seasons is an immense logistical challenge. If Shaan Sharma took on other high-profile acting or union advocacy commitments outside of The Chosen, the production team may have had to compress his character’s narrative resolution into Season 6.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ THE SHMUEL DEPARTURE SPECULATION MATRIX │
├───────────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ POTENTIAL CAUSE │ NARRATIVE & PRODUCTION IMPLICATIONS │
├───────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Theological Completion │ Shmuel's arc reaches natural conclusion at the Cross. │
├───────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ The "Pauline Shift" │ Stepping aside to allow Saul of Tarsus to take center. │
├───────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Psychological Break │ Driven into isolation by overwhelming guilt. │
├───────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Off-Screen Constraints │ Industry scheduling conflicts compressing his storyline.│
└───────────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The Resurrection Era: Why His Absence Carries Deeper Meaning
With Season 7 diving headfirst into the Resurrection, the Empty Tomb, and the explosive growth of the early Church, Shmuel’s absence actually aligns with a profound theological and historical shift.
In the Gospels and the Book of Acts, the Resurrection changes everything. The religious leaders who led the effort to condemn Jesus suddenly find themselves rendered powerless against an unstoppable spiritual movement.
| Character / Group | Historical & Narrative Role in Season 7 Era |
| The Sanhedrin Leadership | Scrambling to control the narrative of the Empty Tomb while losing authority. |
| The Apostles & Disciples | Transitioning from fearful followers into bold proclamation leaders. |
| Saul of Tarsus (Future Paul) | Arriving as the new, fiercer persecutor of the early movement. |
If Shmuel is indeed gone from Season 7, his departure underscores a chilling reality of the narrative: not everyone who stands at the threshold of truth steps through the door.
Alternatively, if Shmuel succumbed to total remorse after realizing he condemned an innocent man, his absence highlights the tragic contrast between Peter—who repented after his denial and found restoration—and those who allowed guilt to drive them into total isolation.
Making Room for the Next Threat: Enter Saul of Tarsus?
There is another compelling theory circulating among long-time followers of the series: Shmuel’s exit is necessary to pave the way for the most iconic persecutor-turned-apostle in biblical history—Saul of Tarsus.
Throughout the first six seasons, Shmuel effectively filled the dramatic role that Saul of Tarsus holds in the Book of Acts: the zealous, highly educated Pharisee determined to wipe out what he considers a dangerous sect. Having two prominent Pharisee zealots competing for screen time in Season 7 could dilute the dramatic impact of Saul’s introduction.
By concluding Shmuel’s journey before or during the initial events of Season 7, Dallas Jenkins creates a clean narrative handoff. Shmuel’s exit symbolizes the end of the initial opposition against Jesus’s earthly ministry, leaving a vacuum that will soon be filled by the aggressive arrival of Saul before his eventual transformation on the road to Damascus.
What Comes Next for the Final Chapter?
While official representatives for The Chosen have kept story details under strict lock and key, one thing remains crystal clear: Season 7 will not shy away from heavy emotional payoffs.
Whether Shmuel’s story concludes with a quiet act of repentance off-screen, a devastating realization at Golgotha, or a surprise cameo that the producers are desperately trying to hide until premiere night, his impact on the show’s legacy is undeniable.
For six seasons, Shaan Sharma gave voice to the inner conflict of a man who loved God’s law so much that he failed to recognize God standing right in front of him. As fans count down the months until the series finale, Shmuel’s absence serves as a poignant reminder that in the world of The Chosen, every departure leaves an indelible mark.
