‘The Chosen’ Creator Says a Reunion with Angel Studios Seems ‘Unlikely’

Even the most devout relationships can sour over money. IndieWire spoke with “The Chosen” creator Dallas Jenkins as part of a larger look at Hollywood’s sudden affinity for divinity (programming, at least). We asked “The Chosen” creator about his divorce from Angel Studios and his courtship of a new streaming partner.

The once-holy matrimony between “The Chosen” creator Dallas Jenkins and Angel Studios (“Sound of Freedom”) went to Hell last year. As Jenkins tells IndieWire, there’s not much of a chance for reconciliation.

The two parties partnered on the first season of “The Chosen,” financing the faith-forward series through crowdfunding and distributing it on the Angel Studios’ streaming platform (and elsewhere). Subsequent seasons premiered first in theaters, where they performed well. Simultaneously, the relationship between Jenkins and Angel was falling apart.

Jenkins claimed Angel Studios kept more than its fair share of the crowdfunding money. (He has previously stated that just 40 percent went to production, while the rest went to marketing and to Angel. Angel has disputed that split.)

An independent arbitrator sided with Jenkins, a decision that Angel Studios plans to appeal. In the meantime, Jenkins is in the works on “The Chosen” Season 5 through his own banner, 5&2 Studios.

Jenkins told IndieWire a reunion with Angel Studios, whether on “The Chosen” or on a future project, is at this point “unlikely.”

“I would say it’s unlikely, but there’s more surprising things have happened in life,” Jenkins said. “And throughout Hollywood history, there’s been relationships that went apart and came together. But I would say it’s probably unlikely.”

He remains very Christian about the whole situation.

“We genuinely wish them the best; I hope they genuinely wish us the best,” Jenkins said. “We’re trying to do similar things, and the rising tide lifts all boats, to use that cliche. There’s good people over there, and what they’re trying to do and what we’re trying to do, just after a certain point wasn’t sustainable together for this particular show. So never say never, but it seems unlikely.”

But Jenkins remains very open for a partner — preferably one with a streaming platform far larger than Angel’s. He says it is clear that “The Chosen” has grown beyond its “Do-It-Yourself, duct tape, and string in the garage” roots, and it needs help with infrastructure and marketing.

“There comes a point where everybody goes, if you want to reach the world, you got to work with someone who’s been doing it for 100 years and who has the resources, money, the reach, and the connections that we just don’t have,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins says 5&2 is in active discussions with studios right now about all of that. Today, 5&2 houses 70 employees and has offices internationally. It’s come a long way.

When Jenkins first teamed with Angel on “The Chosen” seven years ago, Jenkins said Angel’s model — which relies on crowdfunding from individual investors who each hold equity in the company and the project — provided great upside for creators and some infrastructure, but it felt almost like a “self-publishing company.” Creators, like Jenkins, were left on the hook to deliver the rest of the show, including marketing, promotion, and the package itself, he said — that’s not tenable in the long run.

The long run for 5&2 Studios includes a “The Chosen” spinoff “The Chosen Adventures,” an unscripted series that pairs “The Chosen” stars and filmmakers with survivalist Bear Grylls, shows in development about Moses and Joseph, and of course, two more seasons of “The Chosen.” And Jenkins can release any and all of those however he choses.