“The Chosen” director Dallas Jenkins shares a surprising revelation about why the iconic Transfiguration of Jesus won't be depicted in the acclaimed series, offering a candid look into the creative challenges of bringing biblical...



The creator and director of "The Chosen" explains in a new interview why the often-debated Transfiguration of Jesus won’t be depicted in the series – while teasing that other popular biblical scenes not yet portrayed could appear in Seasons 6 and 7.

Director Dallas Jenkins made the comments during an appearance on "Within Reason" with host Alex O’Connor, who describes himself as an agnostic but is nevertheless a big fan of the show.

"The Chosen" is a seven-season television series about Jesus and His followers. Season 6 launches in November.

O’Connor asked Jenkins about two specific events from Scripture – the Transfiguration of Christ, in which Jesus’ appearance became radiant as Moses and Elijah appeared alongside Him, and the Temptation of Christ, when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness.

“There are some things,” Jenkins said, “where I've just said I … don't know how to, and haven't been able to make sense of it within the context of the show. That doesn't mean I'm saying it didn't happen – I'm just saying, ‘You're going to get more out of it from the gospels than you are from the show, and even from me illuminating in the show.’

“I will say that some of the things that I haven't shown yet are because I haven't shown them yet,” he said, smiling – leaving open the possibility that the Temptation, or some other scene not yet included, could appear in Seasons 6 or 7.

Jenkins, though, said the Transfiguration will not be included in "The Chosen."

“I've said publicly that that the Transfiguration is not going to be in "The Chosen," but I also said at ChosenCon a couple years ago … that I would do it in in my Moses show,” Jenkins said, referencing an upcoming three-season series about the Old Testament prophet.

“It's a really wonderful conclusion to the Moses arc if he wasn't allowed to see the Promised Land … but ultimately he actually did because he was there on this mountain in Jerusalem with Christ,” Jenkins said.

But Jenkins said the Transfiguration presents a unique creative challenge for "The Chosen."

“But within the context of the current show, "The Chosen," I just am like, ‘I don't know how to do it.’ … I'm always a little bit more nervous with the supernatural stuff.”

Jenkins acknowledged that Seasons 6 and 7 will include more scenes of the supernatural, including the resurrection and – presumably – the ascension.

He added that his reluctance to depict certain supernatural events stems, in part, from a desire to keep viewers immersed in the plot.

“You don't want people watching it the whole time thinking about how we did it. We just want them to get lost in the story,” Jenkins said. “I don't deny the theological significance of the Transfiguration or of the Temptation in the wilderness, but I do believe we can capture some of that theological significance in other parts of the show. And also, I would just definitively say the show is not meant to be a definitive theological treatise on Jesus. Sometimes there are scenes where I go, ‘You know what? Go to church, study the Bible. That's where you need to engage with this story. The show is not the best place for it.’”

Source