The cast of the popular religious series "The Chosen" will face extreme survival challenges in a new production titled "The Chosen In The Wild," which is scheduled to stream on Prime Video starting August 9th. Led by adventurer and host Bear Grylls, the series follows the cast through various treacherous environments, including several locations across Utah.
Cast Faces Extreme Challenges
The new series features a prominent cast including Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus, Paras Patel, who plays Matthew, Elizabeth Tabish, who portrays Mary Magdalene, Noah James, who plays Andrew, and Luke Dimyan, who portrays Judas. The group will also be joined by Dallas Jenkins. According to a press release from the Chosen TV series, the participants will navigate diverse landscapes such as forests, deserts, and canyons.
Participants in the series will face physical challenges including crossing rivers, rappelling from high elevations, and consuming unconventional foods. The production aims to deliver a sense of adventure that is both heart-pounding and faith-forming for viewers.
Diverse Wild Landscapes
The production spans multiple geographic locations, with a significant focus on the rugged terrain of Utah. The cast will traverse Utah's Castle Valley and the Great Basin Desert, as well as the Canyonlands area. These locations provide a backdrop for the survival challenges featured in the series.
Beyond Utah, the production moves through the Ausable River, the Colorado River, and the Adirondack Forest. The series is designed to showcase the cast's experiences as they undergo these high-stakes adventures in the wild.
Navigating Utah Film Regulations
The use of Utah's natural landscapes for filming involves navigating complex regulatory environments. According to the Utah Film Commission, while the commission itself does not issue filming permits, it assists productions in the process of securing them from various jurisdictions.
Filming permits are required by a wide array of entities across the state, including cities, counties, and federal agencies. These agencies include the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the Utah State Parks, the Utah Department of Transportation, and the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. Additionally, productions may need permission from the Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation or the State Trust Land.
Permit Processing Timelines
The logistical planning for filming in the state requires significant lead time. The Utah Film Commission notes that federally-managed lands typically require at least 15 business days for permit processing, though this timeline can extend depending on the specific impact and size of the production.
State and local permits have different requirements, generally ranging from a minimum of four business days to as many as 10 to 15 business days for processing. The commission also recommends that location scouts and managers be hired to assist productions in navigating the complexities of local and federal permit requirements.
Canyonlands Setting and Safety
The series' inclusion of Utah's Canyonlands places the production in a region known for its vast hiking trails and geological significance. According to the National Park Service, Canyonlands National Park contains hundreds of miles of hiking trails that allow visitors to explore various natural and cultural features.
The park is divided into four distinct districts, offering diverse activities for visitors. While the series features high-adventure activities like rappelling, the National Park Service provides guidelines for visitors to explore the backcountry on foot, horseback, by mountain bike, or via four-wheel drive, noting that many of these activities require specific permits.
A New Kind of Adventure
As the production moves toward its August 9th release, it highlights the intersection of faith and adventure. The series, hosted by Bear Grylls, seeks to combine the survivalist elements of his known work with the spiritual themes central to The Chosen.
