Midlothian
The stars of “The Chosen” have gotten used to living and working in North Texas.
Since season 3, the Biblical drama series based on the life of Jesus has primarily filmed at Camp Hoblitzelle in Midlothian. The Salvation Army owns and operates the 1,200-acre campus, which has more than 80,000 square feet of soundstages and outdoor sets for the show.
In August 2025, the Star-Telegram visited the show’s set to chat with the cast about season 6, which will cover the crucifixion.
Season 6 will premiere three episodes on Nov. 15 on Prime Video, followed by weekly releases through Dec. 6. Fans will then have to wait until March 12, 2027, to see the season 6 finale in movie theaters.
While details on the upcoming season are under wraps until closer to episodes releasing, the cast did open up about spending so much time in North Texas. Here’s what they said.
Jonathan Roumie and Elizabeth Tabish
Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus, says he hasn’t gotten used to the heat and humidity that Texas “generously” serves to the production.
However, he admitted that the state does feel like a second home since he’s spent so much time here. The food and hospitality of the region also helps balance things out, Roumie added.
Elizabeth Tabish, who plays Mary Magdalene, agreed that the Texas weather is all over the place.
“For whatever reason, we always get the most extreme weather,” she said. “Either like snowstorms or intense heat, but we also love it so much.”
“The Chosen” star Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus, at the season 5 world premiere at B&B Theatres Red Oak 12 on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Brayden Garcia bgarcia@star-telegram.com Shahar Isaac and Paras Patel
Shahar Isaac, who plays Simon Peter, said the North Texas region is at the heart of the show.
Whether it was filming early seasons at Capernaum Studios in Poolville, Texas, or using Benbook Lake as a location for scenes, the region has rubbed off on the show.
“This show grew up here,” he said.
With so much time here, the cast has had time to explore the region.
Paras Patel, who plays Matthew, said Dallas is a fun place to visit with several different neighborhoods that he’s explored over the years. As for Isaac, it’s all about Cowtown.
“I hear everything on Magnolia in Fort Worth is good,” Isaac said. “That’s what they tell me.”
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George H. Xanthis, Noah James and Vanessa Benavente
As “The Chosen” has grown in popularity over the years, so have the sets in Midlothian.
George H. Xanthis, who plays John, said his family from Australia visited the set sometime last year and likened it to the famous Studio Backlot Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
“It has come a long way,” he said.
Noah James, who plays Andrew, and Vanessa Benavente, who plays Mother Mary, both said the crew takes great care in making sure everything looks and feels authentic.
Benavente said it’s been “mind-boggling” to see the growth in the production over the years, and how that’s translated to the practicality of the show.
“Everything looks so real,” she said. “You are really transported to that time and place.”
A still from “The Chosen” season 5. 5&2 Studios Jordan Walker Ross and Abe Bueno-Jallad
Jordan Walker Ross, who plays Little James, and Abe Bueno-Jallad, who plays Big James, are two of the main cast actually from Texas.
Ross is from Arlington and is the son of current Mayor Jim Ross, while Bueno-Jallad is from El Paso. Both say they’ve enjoyed working in their home state, especially after spending some many years away working in Los Angeles.
“I actually moved home from LA with my tail tucked between my legs thinking, ‘Oh, it’s not going to work out for me. I’ll just go home and guess try there,’” Ross said. “Then I moved home and then happened to book a show that’s filmed in my backyard.”
Bueno-Jallad said it’s been such a cool experience to see film and television production explode in Texas over the last few years.
“The Chosen” has been filmed in the state since 2018, followed by films like “12 Mighty Orphans” and “The Old Man & the Gun.” “Yellowstone” co-creator Taylor Sheridan has made Fort Worth the hub for several of his shows like “Landman,” “Lioness” and the upcoming “Dutton Ranch.”
The film business is expected to stay strong over the next decade, after state lawmakers passed a bill last year that puts $1.5 billion in film incentives up for grabs until 2035.
“It’s crazy,” Bueno-Jallad said.
“The Chosen” season 6 premieres Nov. 15 on Prime Video.
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Brayden Garcia is a service journalism reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Brayden mainly writes about weather and all things Taylor Sheridan-related.