To play the role of 'Jesus' on TV (and survive the experience), actor Jonathan Roumie must seek out who Jesus really was | dHNfQ0RmZmpKM1FuM3M
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00:00 A woman was in the back of the church crying out to him and calling him Jesus.
00:05 This is like the best day of my life.
00:07 This is just bizarre.
00:09 I want Jesus.
00:11 Playing Jesus Christ, that has to be a huge responsibility.
00:15 So this is it? This is the beginning? This is the start?
00:19 This is the start. Right now is the start.
00:21 My life has gotten pretty insane the last year.
00:27 The Chosen is the first multi-season series about the life of Christ.
00:31 It's also the highest crowdfunded TV project of all time.
00:35 Christianity is the largest religious audience in the world.
00:37 And there's nobody that's playing Jesus at this scale.
00:40 When you're playing a really iconic character like Jesus, you feel like you have extra responsibilities.
00:46 When you look over the centuries, Jesus is depicted in every medium.
00:49 And he continues to be referenced over and over again in culture.
00:53 You're telling Jesus.
00:54 I like to picture Jesus in a tuxedo t-shirt.
00:56 Jesus Christ at our dinner table.
00:58 Does anything make you feel more uncomfortable than some stranger going, "I'd like to talk to you about Jesus."
01:04 He has expressed to me that he does have a desire to learn more about Jesus.
01:08 What could this carpenter from a forgotten corner of the Roman Empire possibly have to say to our world today?
01:14 I have so much to talk to you about. I am serious.
01:18 The whole Jesus Christ thing, what do you do with that?
01:22 I meet people that tell me that when they pray to Jesus, they see my eyes.
01:26 But is he the Messiah? He's not trying to be the Messiah. He's not on that trip.
01:31 It's starting to scare me.
01:33 My life has always been, in some way, hiding behind the character.
01:39 You can't make everyone happy, so you do what you can.
01:42 For somebody who cares about control, the idea of surrender seems like the absolute worst outcome.
01:51 How do I not be this when I don't want to be?
01:54 How do I turn it off?
01:56 Everyone is looking for three things in life. Purpose, love, and connection.
02:04 It's not until you get to the end of yourself that you get to the beginning of something else.
02:08 I know it's a lot of pressure, but some people will form an opinion about God based on you.
02:13 Hey, Jesus!
02:14 What's going on?
02:15 You excited? You ready?
02:17 It's an entirely life-altering experience, and I have no idea where it's going to go.
02:24 But, here I am.
02:28 [MUSIC]