Upamanyu Biswas
Created by Dallas Jenkins, ‘The Chosen’ chronicles the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, showcasing his exploits in greater detail through those close to him. The historical drama series dives into the 1st-century era, setting the stage for Jesus’ grand and epic narrative across the lands of Judea and Galilee, where he comes across numerous apostles, disciples, religious leaders, and members of the Roman state. As such, the historical nature of the setting plays a pivotal role in illustrating the sweeping themes at the center of the story, one grounded in spirituality, resilience, and the power of the divine. For the fifth season, the production crew had to up the ante with their filming locations as they jumped into the next phase of Jesus’ life, one that is characterized by events surrounding the Last Supper.
The Chosen Season 5 Filming Locations
Although ‘The Chosen’ is primarily set in ancient Israel, the filming for the series primarily takes place across the states of Texas and Utah – a trend continued in season 5. The principal photography for the fifth season began on April 11, 2024, and was wrapped up in July. Filming essentially took place in the Midlothian set in Texas and the production set in Goshen, Utah. These regions have also been utilized in previous iterations of the Christian drama series, which tries to embody its historical period as accurately as possible through intricate environments that are designed to evoke the right balance of emotions and resonant storytelling. To that end, the cast and crew enjoyed returning to their old stomping grounds, embarking on a new phase of the iconic story of a religious leader.
Midlothian, Texas
‘The Chosen’ season 5 is filmed in Midlothian, Texas, which is home to the main production complex where the crew set up their base – Camp Hoblitzelle. Situated at 8060 Singleton Road, it is a 1,200-acre property owned by The Salvation Army. Its environment provided the perfect base for a 1st century Israel, with several dedicated structures within the premises built for the show’s setting. It even contains a replica of a Biblical village and other notable spots, such as a bustling marketplace, both enhancing the realism of the show’s backdrop. The set is particularly used to bring to life the city of Jerusalem and its adjoining areas. There is also a 30,000-square-foot soundstage that can be utilized for scenes requiring a high degree of fidelity, which was the case for the recreation of The Last Supper in the fifth season.
One of the advantages of having Midlothian as the primary filming spot for ‘The Chosen’ is its unique geography and weather, especially during the summer months, which can often be mapped one-to-one with ancient Israel. The rolling fields and sun-baked lands are a big part of what lends weight, gravitas, and scenic beauty to several key scenes within the show. As such, the production crew can gain the benefits of using both a specially designed large-scale set and outdoor environments for their ambitious series while also taking the support of the local community and resources. These work in tandem as the sets are often populated by many extras who also provide the ambiance for the historic settlements illustrated through these extravagant production sites.
Goshen, Utah
While Midlothian served as the main base of operations for the production crew, filming for the fifth season of ‘The Chosen’ also took place in Goshen, Utah, specifically in the LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Motion Picture Studio at 12800 Sand Hill Road. It is a permanent production facility built for the portrayal of the life of Jesus Christ by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has served as an integral spot for the depiction of Jerusalem and ancient Israel in general throughout the Christian drama series. For season 5, creator Dallas Jenkins expressed his enthusiasm for returning to the spot along with his cast and crew, citing how enraptured he was by the place ever since his first visit. As per their production schedule, the team spent 26 days filming at the LDS complex before traveling to Midlothian.
In an interview, Jenkins said, “The actual set that they built is so extraordinary, it’s very humbling. I always feel very grateful when I’m here, and then I feel a sense of responsibility, that the set is so great, the setting is so great we’ve got to live up to it.” During one particular day of shooting, the set was brimming with 600 fans who made it into the show as extras. They felt honored to have the opportunity to set foot at the same place where Jesus’ story has found resonance, despite being 7,000 miles away from Israel. As such, they could participate in production, enhancing their relationship with the show’s creative team. Because the area is mainly devoted to filming purposes, it allows for greater versatility and flexibility when depicting certain scenes, with some parts of the set being reutilized for the same scene in a different context.
