The Chosen Granted SAG Waiver to Continue Filming Amid Strike

Trevor Decker

Published

July 17, 2023

NOTE: This article is 10 months old and may not include the most recent information.

Fans of the popular Jesus of Nazareth TV series The Chosen can rejoice, as the show has been granted a waiver from SAG-AFTRA to continue filming season 4 despite the ongoing strike.

The show’s official Twitter account shared the good news yesterday that the waiver had been approved, allowing filming to resume as early as Monday with the full cast. Sources close to the production confirm that shooting has already restarted today and is expected to wrap in two weeks.

The Utah-based production only had to halt filming for a day or two before being granted the waiver, after creator Dallas Jenkins made an appeal on Instagram asking SAG for an exemption. The Chosen is the first known TV series to receive a waiver, with most expected to go to independent films instead of studio productions.

To qualify for the waiver, productions must be truly independent and unaffiliated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). They must also agree to be bound retroactively to whatever contract terms are eventually reached between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP.

While The Chosen recently announced a distribution deal with Lionsgate and seasons 1-3 are available on multiple platforms like Netflix and Amazon, sources indicate the Lionsgate deal does not include season 4. The show is considered independent given its crowdfunded roots, with viewers contributing over $40 million so far.

The historical drama follows Jesus and those around him, portraying his ministry and teachings. The waiver allows filming to continue uninterrupted on season 4, much to the relief of the show’s dedicated fanbase.