'Bad News' About 'The Chosen' Season Four

Fans of hit TV show "The Chosen" were likely surprised to see creator Dallas Jenkins release a Facebook video this weekend with a shocking title: "I’ve got bad news about Season 4’s release." That candid proclamation gave a clue into some of what could be expected from Jenkins' more than 16-minute "family chat" as he dubbed it — an honest conversation about why The Chosen season four was released in theaters, the monumental cost of producing the series, why streaming is delayed, and more overarching plans for the future. “Our previous path wasn’t proving to be sustainable," Jenkins said of the crowdfunding model that launched "The Chosen" into meteoric success. Without going into detail, the famed director also indicated there are current legal challenges holding up the latest season's streaming release. Efrem Graham, host of CBN's "Studio 5," has been covering "The Chosen" since its inception, and explained the ins and outs of the information delivered in Jenkins' video. While Graham assumed "something was going on" involving the streaming release of season four, he "did not realize the seriousness of it or the legal issues [and] financial issues" at play. The TV host did credit Jenkins' honesty — something that's often rare when it comes to the teams behind TV shows and movies. "Dallas has been very good about being forthcoming whenever possible about any questions," Graham said. "And anytime I've interviewed him, he'd always said, 'Ask me anything,' so I appreciate that from him." And that candidness was on full display in Jenkins' video, with the director acknowledging some fans' frustrations over not being able to stream the latest season. Considering "The Chosen" has traditionally been free to stream relatively quickly, Jenkins explained the financial reasons his team chose a theatrical run. Many fans had become accustomed to the crowdfunding model and the simple release that didn't involve ticket sales or other financial or logistical barriers. A theater release has conplicated that reality. "This is the single biggest, successful crowdfunded project in media history," Graham said. "It started with a partnership between Dallas and Angel Studios; they helped them to raise funds, and then, as the series grew, roles shifted because they needed more support ... financially; they needed more support in terms of distribution." Today, Angel Studios, whom Jenkins described in the video as a former partner of "The Chosen," has gone on to crowdfund other films like "Sound of Freedom" and "Cabrini," adding a new model into the mix for faith and family-friendly projects. Graham further explained some of the barriers Jenkins faces, including the need to use any incoming funds for the next season of the show; "The Chosen" has always had a seven-season run, leaving Jenkins and his team with the important task of ensuring monies are poured back into production after each new season. Listen for more.