The Chosen One (2023 TV series)

The Chosen One
A boy laying in a cross position and other teens are carried on a boat by a crowd.
Promotional poster
SpanishEl Elegido
Genre
Based on
American Jesus
by
Developed by
  • Everardo Gout
  • Leopoldo Gout
  • Jorge Dorantes
Directed byEverardo Gout
Starring
Composers
Country of origin
  • Mexico
  • United States
Original languages
  • Spanish
  • English
Production
Executive producers
  • Stacy Perskie
  • Stephanie Correa
  • Jorge Dorantes
  • Mark Millar
  • Peter Gross
  • Everardo Gout
  • Leopoldo Gout
Editors
  • Adriana Martínez
  • Agustina Hernández
  • Eduardo Palenque
  • Laura Palotini
Running time35-48 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseAugust 16, 2023 (2023-08-16)

The Chosen One (Spanish: El Elegido) is a fantasy television series developed by Everardo and Leopoldo Gout, and Jorge Dorantes for Netflix. The series is based on the 2004–23 comic book series American Jesus (initially titled Chosen) by Mark Millar and Peter Gross, and follows a boy who discovers he has the abilities of Jesus Christ. Unlike the source material, the show takes place in Mexico rather than the United States. The series features an ensemble cast starring Bobby Luhnow, Dianna Agron, Lilith Amelie Siordia Mejia, Juan Fernando González Anguamea, Jorge Javier Arballo, Alejandro Edda, Alberto Pérez-Jácome Kenna, Patricio Serna Meza, Carlos Bardem, Alfonso Dosal, Sofía Sisniega, Eileen Yáñez, and Tenoch Huerta. It released on August 16, 2023.

Premise

Jodie, a twelve-year-old boy in Baja California, suddenly discovers he has Jesus-like powers: he can turn water into wine, make the crippled walk, and, perhaps, even raise the dead, which he does on at least two occasions. As the Evangelical and the Yaquí leaders in town try to get him to use his powers to save humankind, all Jodie wants to do initially is to impress the girl he likes and stand up to his bullies. As Jodie struggles and eventually comes to terms with his destiny as a channel for higher powers, everything gets thrown for a loop when he discovers the truth around his identity.[1]

— Netflix

The series ends with a puzzle: is he a force for good or evil, and will a great war between these forces take place?

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"The Arrival"Everardo GoutTeleplay by : Everardo Gout & Leopoldo Gout and Jorge Dorantes
Story by : Jorge Dorantes and Everardo Gout & Leopoldo Gout		August 16, 2023 (2023-08-16)
2"Miracles?"Everardo GoutIturri Sosa and Jorge DorantesAugust 16, 2023 (2023-08-16)
3"The Awakening"Everardo GoutKevin Rodriguez and Jorge DorantesAugust 16, 2023 (2023-08-16)
4"True or False?"Everardo GoutTina de la Torre and Jorge DorantesAugust 16, 2023 (2023-08-16)
5"Faith"Everardo GoutJorge Dorantes and Kevin RodriguezAugust 16, 2023 (2023-08-16)
6"Revelation"Everardo GoutJorge Dorantes and Everardo Gout & Leopoldo GoutAugust 16, 2023 (2023-08-16)

Production

What they've done with this is just masterful... It looks like Roma or City of God, a six-part series of absolute beauty and I've loved every second of this... [the show is] a horror story, but also a coming of age and has a Stand by Me vibe...

— Mark Millar, co-creator of the show's source material, Chosen (American Jesus).[5]

Initially, Mark Millar and Peter Gross' Millarworld comic book trilogy Chosen (American Jesus) was set to be adapted into a feature film in March 2009, with Matthew Vaughn to direct, and produce under his Marv Films banner with Kris Thykier, after collaborating with Millar on Kick-Ass (2010).[6] However, Vaughn denied he was directing the movie, and claimed to have only been discussing with Millar.[7] Waypoint Entertainment was also to be involved, and attempted to restart the project in 2016.[5]

In July 2018, a multilingual television series adaptation of the comic was announced (alongside other Millarworld properties) for Netflix, with Everardo and Leopoldo Gout serving as showrunners and executive producers, with the former also directing.[8]

Principal photography was set to begin sometime in spring 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] Filming eventually commenced on April 25, 2022, in Baja California in Mexico. On June 16, 2022, a van accident occurred outside the set that killed two cast members, and injured six crew members from the show, as a result of a new driver going at high speeds combined with a majority of the passengers not wearing seatbelts, leading production company Redrum to suspend production temporarily.[10][11][12] Additionally, a writer on the show, Rick Zazueta, had claimed in a Facebook post that other cast members had expressed concerns over "logistical and transportation issues" prior to the accident.[13]

The series had its first look at the 2022 Netflix Tudum event, where Tenoch Huerta and Dianna Agron were announced as part of the cast.[1]

Release

In March 2023, Netflix officially announced the series, on top of revealing a new poster artwork.[3][14][15] In June, the first teaser trailer premiered at that year's Tudum event.[16]

The Chosen One streamed all six episodes worldwide on August 16, 2023.[2][5][17]

Critical reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 86% approval rating with an average rating of 6.3/10 based on 7 reviews.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b Netflix (September 24, 2022). "El Elegido Tudum: Inside Look Netflix". YouTube. Google LLC. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "The Chosen One". Netflix. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  3. ^ a b White, James (March 28, 2023). "Mark Millar Announces American Jesus Netflix Adaptation The Chosen One". Empire Online. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "The Chosen One, The New Mexican Series Based On The Graphic Novel American Jesus, Comes To Netflix This August 16". About Netflix. May 18, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Freitag, Lee (March 28, 2023). "Millarworld's American Jesus Adaptation, The Chosen One, Debuts First Look". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  6. ^ Kit, Borys (March 25, 2009). "Comic 'American Jesus' eyed for film". The Hollywood Reporter. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on March 27, 2009. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  7. ^ Wigler, Josh (July 21, 2009). "EXCLUSIVE: 'Kick-Ass' Director Matthew Vaughn Not Attached To Mark Millar's 'American Jesus'". MTV. Viacom International Inc. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  8. ^ "NETFLIX ANNOUNCES FIRST SLATE OF SERIES AND FILMS BASED ON THE STORIES OF MARK MILLAR". About Netflix. Netflix, Inc. July 17, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  9. ^ Moore, Kacey (March 28, 2023). "'The Chosen One' Millarworld Netflix Series: Everything We Know So Far". What's on Netflix. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  10. ^ Harring, Bruce (June 18, 2023). "Update: Production Suspended On Netflix Series 'The Chosen One' After Two Actors Die, Six Injured In Auto Accident Involving Cast & Crew". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  11. ^ Cordero, Rosy (June 20, 2022). "'The Chosen One' Accident Survivor Remembers Longtime Friends Who Perished, Addresses Tragic Van Ride & Work Conditions On Netflix Series". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  12. ^ Cordero, Rosy (June 23, 2022). "'The Chosen One': Initial Investigation Points To Speeding As Cause Of Deadly Crash – Report". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  13. ^ Cordero, Rosy (June 19, 2022). "Friends Of Deceased 'The Chosen One' Actors Allege Production Had Transport & Logistical Issues". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  14. ^ Bonomolo, Cameron (March 28, 2023). "Netflix's The Chosen One: New Look at Mark Millar's American Jesus Adaptation". ComicBook.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  15. ^ Dela Paz, Maggie (March 29, 2023). "The Chosen One: Netflix Sets TV Adaptation of Mark Millar's American Jesus". ComingSoon.net. Media Holdings. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  16. ^ Netflix (June 17, 2023). "TUDUM 2023: A Netflix Global Fan Event Live From Brazil". YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  17. ^ Netflix Geeked [@NetflixGeeked] (May 18, 2023). "after surviving a freak accident, a 12 year-old boy discovers he has the ability to turn water into wine and even raise the dead. Based on the graphic novel 'American Jesus' by Mark Millar and Peter Gross, The Chosen One premieres on Netflix on August 16th" (Tweet). Retrieved May 18, 2023 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "The Chosen One". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 19, 2023.