Thousands of fans of the hit series \u201cThe Chosen\u201d gathered at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, Feb. 19\u201321 for ChosenCon \u2014 a fan convention for the show.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s gathering also featured cast members from other shows from \u201cThe Chosen\u201d universe including \u201cThe Chosen Adventures\u201d and 5&2 Studios\u2019 next series, \u201cJoseph of Egypt,\u201d as well as Amazon MGM Studios and the Wonder Project\u2019s \u201cHouse of David.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is huge. This is the Comic-Con of the Bible,\u201d Michael Iskander, the actor who portrays King David in \u201cHouse of David,\u201d told EWTN News on the teal carpet.<\/p>\n
This was the young actor\u2019s first time attending ChosenCon. He participated in a panel discussion alongside star of \u201cThe Chosen\u201d Jonathan Roumie and Adam Hashmi, the actor who will portray Joseph in \u201cJoseph of Egypt.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve wanted to come to ChosenCon for such a long time as a fan but I\u2019m here as a guest. So this is really, really special,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Speaking about his panel, Iskander said: \u201cEverybody has been so warm. It was Jonathan and Adam and I and we had a really, really amazing conversation about what it means to play these biblical characters, how it affects us, how it\u2019s changed us and what these biblical characters mean to everyone who is watching.\u201d<\/p>\n Many of the actors in attendance highlighted the importance the fans have played in the success of \u201cThe Chosen\u201d and shared their feelings on the fact that they only have one season left to film.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember in Season 1 we had like five superfans that would follow us around \u2014 by the way those five same fans we can see around here on occasion. So if we do see them we\u2019re just like \u2018Oh my goodness \u2014 here since the beginning,\u2019\u201d said George Xanthis, the actor who portrays the apostle John in \u201cThe Chosen.\u201d \u201cBut they\u2019re just as important as the fans that have been here for two years or one year or six years or whatever it is but remembering back to that time, we were so grateful that we even had five fans.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cSo I take that feeling into things like today and it\u2019s not lost on me how lucky I am, and how lucky we all are as a series and as a cast and as a production. So when days like this come about I just try to give my all. I want to say \u2018Hi\u2019 to as many people as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Paras Patel, who plays Matthew, called his time on the show \u201ca gift and a blessing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn many ways I have learned so much about myself being on the show and strengthened myself through it that I\u2019m excited to see what will happen after,\u201d he shared. \u201cI kind of don\u2019t want it to end because I just love these guys and I love our crew, but, as they say, all good things must come to an end.\u201d<\/p>\n An actor who has been deeply impacted by his time portraying his character is Giavani Cairo, the actor who plays Thaddeus. The actor has spoken openly about growing up without his biological father and during a panel discussion at ChosenCon discussed a moment of healing he received while filming.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s [Thaddeus] impacted me in ways that I could not have even imagined,\u201d he told EWTN News.<\/p>\n He shared that a few months before booking the role on \u201cThe Chosen,\u201d he decided to \u201crenew\u201d his faith.<\/p>\n \u201cI started reading the Bible every day, talking to God like he was a friend, and that\u2019s when the audition for \u2018The Chosen\u2019 came \u2014 at the right moment, right time,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd they always say God finds you in those moments.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cSo for me it started a healing process. I always had a chip on my shoulder wanting to prove that I was worthy. And he\u2019s made me reflective that I am worthy of his love, and I\u2019m worthy of other people\u2019s love as well. So I just wanted to make people feel seen through Thaddeus that we all do matter.\u201d<\/p>\n While details of Season 6 of \u201cThe Chosen\u201d are still largely under wraps, Roumie briefly discussed his experience portraying the Lord\u2019s passion and crucifixion.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the first few months afterwards going to Mass \u2014 and even thinking about it now \u2014 I just get weepy. I get emotional. It\u2019s hard. It\u2019s left an indelible impression on me \u2014 mentally and emotionally sharing even just a percentage, a micron of a percentage of the Lord\u2019s passion playing it and reenacting it has left me absolutely humbled and moved,\u201d he told EWTN News.<\/p>\n Monsignor Patrick J. Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte, was grateful that his city was hosting the conference and called the event \u201cinspiring to the faithful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s such a beautiful new art form \u2014 a series \u2014 and to take the Gospel story in elevated form of that art form and present it for the world in a way that so many people can view and resonate with is just an extraordinary feat,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Winslow added: \u201cWhen you present a faithful rendition of Our Lord, or a faithful rendition of the Gospel, or David, or for that matter any story of faith, but you do it in a way that\u2019s very well done, very well produced, it\u2019s striking chords that very few people have access to. They\u2019re deep within. And when you strike those chords with people, it inspires.\u201d<\/p>\n