Upcoming: "The Chosen," season six, and "The Resurrection of the Christ"

(OSV News) -- Actor Jonathan Roumie, who prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington on March 19, also used the occasion to share some news about the next installments of the miniseries "The Chosen," in which he plays Jesus Christ.

"I'm grateful to say that season six will stream on Prime Video in the fall of 2026. So several months from now, we will begin airing the show," he told the gathering. "And the culmination of season six," he added, "the story leading to the Crucifixion, will be released in theaters nationwide as a full-length feature film in the spring of 2027."

"Our hope is truly that this won't be something people simply watch, but that it becomes an experience that draws them deeper into the mystery of Christ's love, the mystery of his cross and the reality of his mercy."

Earlier in his talk, Roumie observed, "Filming those scenes in Matera, Italy, was by far the most difficult thing I've ever done in my life. It was physically demanding, but even more than that, it carried a profound spiritual weight. To spend day after day immersed in the Passion of Christ, in the reality of the cross, it strips everything else away."

"The Chosen: Last Supper," released in three parts in a theatrical run last spring through Fathom Events, contained episodes of the miniseries' fifth season.

John Mulderig, media reviewer for OSV News, observed of Part 1, "Anyone familiar with Scripture will be able to follow the basic plot. This is a recounting of the early events of Holy Week, beginning with the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and concluding with his cleansing of the Temple."

He called it "Unusually sophisticated religious entertainment," but cautioned, "Some mature moments put this big-screen compilation out of bounds for kids."

Dallas Jenkins, who created "The Chosen," is credited as its overall director and has co-written the vast majority of its scripts. The show is billed as "the world's most-watched" series about Jesus.

Mel Gibson's sequel to 2004's "The Passion of the Christ" is also expected to reach theaters in 2027, split into two parts and released by Lionsgate."The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One” will open on Good Friday, March 26, and the release of "Part Two” is set for Ascension Day, May 6.

In the new films, Jesus, who was originally played by Jim Caviezel, will be portrayed by Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen while the role of Mary Magdalene, previously filled by Monica Bellucci, has gone to Cuban actress Mariela Garriga.

"The Passion of the Christ," self-financed by Gibson for $30 million, earned approximately $370 million in North America and roughly $610 million worldwide. It was nominated for Academy Awards for cinematography, makeup and original score.