(RNS) — Seven years since first airing, the mega-hit biographical Jesus drama “The Chosen” is a full-fledged franchise. The evidence? An annual multi-day convention (Chosen Con), merch (hoodies, coloring books, jewelry), the fandom (over 308 million viewers) and now, a spinoff show (“Joseph of Egypt,” expected in 2027), even as the original series is about to go into its sixth season.
Available on its app as well as streaming, “The Chosen” is a Bible show designed to be viewed on demand. Created by evangelical Christians, it’s also upfront about its agenda to point viewers to Christ.
But the impact of “The Chosen” is perhaps best encapsulated in its catchphrase: “Binge Jesus.”
“‘The Chosen’ really set the standard for what it means to make a biblical TV series,” said Michael Iskander, star of “House of David,” a show about the king of ancient Israel and Judea whose second season comes to Prime Video March 27. “It’s the first of its kind, completely crowdfunded … and to see the fandom that it has built, it’s only things like that that allow for shows like ‘House of David’ to exist.”
Ben Kingsley as “Moses,” from left, Ahmed Lucan as “Aaron,” and O-T Fagbenle as “Pharaoh” in “The Old Stories: Moses,” produced by Wonder Project and Amazon MGM Studios. (Photo by Stefania Rosini)
“The Chosen” has become emblematic of a growing Bible-based trend. On Wednesday, Wonder Project, the studio behind “House of David,” announced a three-part companion special, “The Old Stories: Moses,” expected this spring. In addition to its own upcoming spinoff, “Joseph of Egypt,” “The Chosen” has inspired “The Promised Land,” a Moses-era sitcom whose first season debuted last year on YouTube.
Joining them are Fox Nation docudramas “David: King of Israel,” a four-episode series that ended this month, and “Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints,” which will air its Easter episode on Jesus’ mother Mary this Friday. Still making the rounds on Netflix is the 2024 Moses docudrama, and Kevin Costner’s story of Jesus’ birth from last Christmas continues streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
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The Bible has long been a top draw — in 2014, the History Channel biopic “Son of God” earned $70 million, and before that Mel Gibson’s 2004 “Passion of the Christ” grossed over $620 million worldwide.
But the recent suite of shows has been more sustained than previous series offerings, and more spiritual. “It’s certainly shown the viability of the genre when it’s done for an audience that is very committed to the Bible, not just as a work of literature or as something you can b …