The Chosen Season 4 Interview: Vanessa Benavente (Mother Mary) and Abe Bueno-Jallad (Big James) reveal what they are most excited about for the new season and more.
The Chosen Season 4 Synopsis: Clashing kingdoms. Rival rulers. The enemies of Jesus close in while His followers struggle to keep up, leaving him to carry the burden alone. Threatened by the reality of Jesus’ growing influence, religious leaders do the unthinkable—ally with their Roman oppressors. As the seeds of betrayal are planted and opposition to Jesus’ message turns violent, he’s left with no alternative but demand his followers RISE UP.
We spoke with Vanessa Benavente (Mother Mary) and Abe Bueno-Jallad (Big James) about The Chosen season 4 and how it feels knowing that it is coming to theaters around the world. They also reveal what they were most excited about for the new season, and the incredible following that the show has amassed. The two also discuss adapting such integral people from the Bible for The Chosen.
Vanessa Benavente and Abe Bueno-Jallad Talk The Chosen Season 4
Tessa Smith: The Chosen season 4 is hitting theaters, how does that feel?
Vanessa Benavente: The entire season too! We’ve had premieres in theaters, but it’s massive, it’s wild. It makes sense in my head and makes sense because we have a big community around this show who are very passionate about it. And the whole cinematic experience makes sense for a community like this.
Abe Bueno-Jallad: Also, us partnering with Lionsgate and them helping us distribute to not just select theaters, which was kind of what was happening last time, now to like, the theater that’s around every corner. And we did really good when it was the ones that we could get a hold of. So I’m really excited to see, my hopes and aspirations are that we see a great explosion of people coming together to watch it at the theater so that they can experience what we’ve been experiencing for the last couple of years.
Tessa Smith: When you signed on, did you have any idea The Chosen was going to be so big?
Vanessa Benavente: I mean, for myself, because I was in the first season, I didn’t even know we would have a second season, let alone a massive following. No.
Tessa Smith: What is it like to take someone from the Bible and adapt them for the screen?
Abe Bueno-Jallad: I think for me, it’s gotten me to do research on such an interesting part of history. And it’s also like the reverence that these stories are the ones that have impacted people, and has impacted modern history up until today, and is still like a major linchpin for what people go to in their time of need. So I think for me, it’s a privilege, it really is.
Vanessa Benavente: And it’s such a challenge to try to understand with a 21st century brain what someone in the first century may have felt like, thought, everything, but I always say it all starts with the writing and our writers do such a magnificent job fleshing out these characters that it’s just so easy, because what they talk about and what they’re feeling, we feel it too in our day and age.
Tessa Smith: Speaking of the writers, when you got the scripts for The Chosen Season 4, was there something you were really excited to film?
Vanessa Benavente: Yeah, there were a couple of scenes that were really exciting. My character in particular doesn’t have a lot of participation this season. But the scenes where I am in are quite intense. But they’re so beautiful, too. I don’t know, I just love acting and to get to act in this show with Jonathan, with this guy right here, it’s just such a gift.
Abe Bueno-Jallad: I think that a good barometer for how excited we get when we get the scripts is like, we will start texting each other. Did you read our scene together? Oh, my God, I can’t wait to do that. That sort of energy transmits all the way up into rehearsal and the camaraderie. Maybe somebody worked 15 hours and then the next day, they have that big turnaround, and I had my day off, so you kind of want to be there for your scene partner and support them. Just depending on, it’s like you never know what kind of day you’re gonna get. The weather in Dallas doesn’t always cooperate. Well, the weather around the world doesn’t always cooperate.
The Chosen season 4 is releasing theatrically throughout February.
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About The Chosen Season 4
“Come to me, you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” That was the theme of Season 3. Jesus said this to a crowd of thousands before also saying it to Simon while they stood on water. Season 4? Jesus is weary and heavy-laden, and He needs rest.
We’re getting closer and closer to Jerusalem, to what we know is coming. Jesus is getting increasingly frustrated, and yes, sad. Not because he’s getting closer to death, but because of the reasons He must die. From his faith’s religious leaders, to the holy city of Jerusalem, to his own friends and followers, people are not understanding his mission. To that end, He must allow painful things, and even set in motion certain confusing or bittersweet events, to accelerate the outcomes that will lead to Holy Week.
Season 4 marks the midpoint of the most famous and influential story in human history. It will be painful, and it will be joyous. It will be bittersweet. But by all measures, Season 4 will also be our best.
– Dallas Jenkins, Creator of The Chosen
Secure your tickets to see The Chosen season 4 in theaters.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.