‘Jesus Is for Everybody,’ Jonathan Roumie Says of the Universal Appeal of ‘The Chosen’
The actor who plays Jesus in the hit streaming series The Chosen has made appearances on an unusually wide range of shows -- The View, Tucker Carlson Tonight, Good Morning America, and The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, to name a few. At each stop, the hosts take a moment to share their admiration. It's a surprising show of unity from platforms that rarely agree on anything -- something the actor himself, Jonathan Roumie, has noticed.
The Chosen has found common ground across political and cultural divides in a world where disagreement often defines the discourse.
Roumie, though, sees the agreement as a natural outgrowth of the gospel.
"The truth is undeniable. Jesus is for everybody," Roumie told Crosswalk Headlines. "I think people that meet me realize that the only agenda I have is to spread the love of God everywhere I go to the best of my abilities. And God willing, I'm doing that, but I can always go further with it. And I'll talk to anybody who wants to sit down with me and share my experience."
Roumie has also made stops on Sherri and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He's sat down for interviews with The New York Times and TV Guide. Whoopi Goldberg, a champion of the Left, is a fan of The Chosen. But so is Peterson, a hero of the Right.
At each stop, Roumie stays consistent in his message -- about the series and, by extension, about Jesus.
"I've run the gamut of shows for people that probably would never be in the same room with each other, and I've been on their shows, and I feel warmth and welcome and hospitality from all of them," Roumie said. "And I think that's because [I'm] trying to be a representative of the greatest Human … that ever walked the face of the earth, which is Jesus, and the fact that He represented God, and is God and represents love. And sharing that love -- that's part of my mission."
Roumie, whose own faith has grown as the series has expanded worldwide, told Crosswalk Headlines, "I see my role in that as somebody who wants to use his gifts and talents to serve God and shedding the light of the gospel in society."
He has become one of the most recognizable faces in entertainment thanks to the series' global popularity -- more than 200 million people worldwide have watched it -- and its increasing presence in mainstream culture. In February, his image and those of his co-stars lit up billboards in Times Square.
He's recognized so often in public that he avoids shopping when he doesn't want the attention -- especially if he's sporting his signature beard. His best disguise, he said, is a clean shave.
"I think people are kind of unnerved when they see me clean-shaven," he said.
Season 5 of The Chosen will launch in theaters as part of a three-part film event, The Chosen: Last Supper, over the next month. The three parts will roll out March 28, April 4 and April 11. The season's primary theme, Roumie said, is trust.
The new season spotlights Holy Week.
"It comes down to the disciples trusting Jesus [and] Jesus trusting the Father to bring Him through the inevitable, knowing that He must drink of that cup and that His Father's will shall be done," Roumie said.
Photo credit: ©5&2 Studios
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published March 26, 2025.
