Jonathan Roumie had what he calls his 鈥渟urrender鈥 moment before landing the role of Jesus in the crowd-funded film and television series, 鈥淭he Chosen.鈥
鈥淚 got to a point where there was no work,鈥 he explains. 鈥淚 always kept my faith and my work separate 鈥 and I think that harmed me. So in an act of desperation, I fell to my knees and I said, 鈥楪od, if you want me to stay in this business, you have to take over and I鈥檓 going to give everything to you. If you want me to get out of the business, I鈥檒l get out.鈥欌
That moment 鈥 which occurred seven years ago this May 鈥 represented Roumie鈥檚 low point. 鈥淚 was broke. I literally was out of food and I had no options,鈥 he says. 鈥淎ll my side hustles just dried up. I couldn鈥檛 get arrested to drive for Uber. I鈥檇 get in a car and I鈥檇 sit there for an hour and not a single call would come in.鈥
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Mere hours after his prayer, the actor came back to his apartment and found four checks in his mailbox. 鈥淚t made no sense,鈥 Roumie says. 鈥淭hese checks were like old residual checks that never got paid. I had this windfall and I had just given everything over to God.鈥
Jonathan Roumie, a New York-based actor, plays Jesus in the series, "The Chosen." The latest edition, "The Last Supper," hits theaters in March.聽
Three months later, Roumie heard from Dallas Jenkins, an Illinois church鈥檚 media director, who he had worked with on a series of short films. 鈥淲e鈥檙e doing four episodes of a crowd-funded show,鈥 Jenkins told him. 鈥淚t probably won鈥檛 go anywhere but you鈥檒l have a few episodes of work.鈥
Roumie signed on to play Jesus 鈥渁nd here we are, five seasons later, a global smash and about to film our sixth season. I just marvel at what has happened because my life, from that moment I was on my knees, has never been the same.鈥
That little project 鈥 referred to as 鈥淭he Chosen鈥 鈥 has been seen worldwide, was translated into some 100 languages (with a goal of 600) and is about to hit theaters with its latest season, 鈥淭he Last Supper.鈥
The series began in 2017. Producers raised $4 million for four episodes
鈥渁nd it took eight months to raise that money. Then, when they were going into raising money for the second half of the season, they released a teaser and the time it took to raise the back half went like that,鈥 Roumie says, snapping his fingers. 鈥淚t was incredible. When we saw that happening, there was this energy and this spirit. To see it pan out with investors and people who wanted to help us get it made was confirmation.鈥
Director Dallas Jenkins, left, discuses a scene with Jonathan Roumie in "The Chosen" series, which has been a global phenomenon among religious productions.聽
Jenkins and company released the series 鈥渁nd then COVID hit,鈥 Roumie says. 鈥淒allas and the team said, 鈥榃e鈥檝e got to do something to contribute to how everybody鈥檚 feeling here.鈥 And so, they made the show free and contributions, which they were relying on to make the show, quintupled. The minute we made it free, it went viral.鈥
By season four, the folks behind 鈥淭he Chosen鈥 had a foundation established that could guarantee that seven seasons would be made. 鈥淚ts global impact is increasing as we speak,鈥 the 50-year-old says.
In the latest edition, Jesus meets with his disciples and tells them what will happen and where they fit in. 鈥淭he Last Supper鈥 details those days before the crucifixion and how they affected Jesus.
While Roumie, a New York native, grew up a Christian, he never researched how Jesus might look or act.
鈥淚 always thought he would be like somebody from the Middle East. My father鈥檚 from the Middle East, so I always thought he would have a darker complexion and, if he were to speak English, there would probably be some sort of Middle Eastern accent. So when I got the opportunity to put my stamp on it, I said, 鈥楴obody鈥檚 ever done that and I don鈥檛 understand why, but I鈥檓 going to do it.鈥欌
Jonathan Roumie stars in "The Chosen."聽
Playing Jesus, Roumie adds, 鈥渉as deepened my faith exponentially. It鈥檚 made me want to be the best version of a human that I can to everybody I encounter in the world, whether they have beliefs. The point is, we鈥檙e all on this rock together for a finite amount of time and how can we make each other鈥檚 lives better?鈥
While Roumie has done other roles since 鈥淭he Chosen鈥 (he just finished a comedy with Kevin James), this one towers.
The accent, he says is a blend of his aunt鈥檚 鈥 who鈥檚 from Palestine 鈥 and his father鈥檚 鈥搘ho鈥檚 from Egypt. 鈥淪he has a very thick accent, my dad鈥檚 is much lighter,鈥 Roumie says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a blend that has happened a little bit over time. Finding that sweet spot to make sure I could be understood by anybody in the Midwest 鈥 has been a special personal touch that I鈥檝e been able to give the role.鈥
And the reaction? Roumie has been asked to baptize children, marry couples and hear confession. He begs off, of course but "it's been pretty wild."
