TV survivalist Bear Grylls is set to launch a new reality show, featuring the cast of Netflix series The Chosen, which is based on the life of Jesus. Grylls, a Christian, has said his faith is a ‘secret of strength’.
The show will involve Grylls asking cast members about their life and faith. He is also voicing CS Lewis’ book Mere Christianity for a devotional series on the prayer app ‘Hallow’ which he says will ‘be helpful for anyone curious about God or those interested in arguments to defend the faith better.’
In an interview with CBN News he said: 'I’m really proud to announce The Chosen in the Wild, where I get to take cast members away on many "Running Wild"-type adventures, get to know their stories, see the real people, what they’re like, their background, and their journey through The Chosen, their faith, and kind of how it’s changed them.'
The Chosen is entering its fifth season, and depicts Christ’s life and miracles, as well as the imagined private lives of the disciples. Grylls said it 'shows the real Jesus', and helps illustrate the 'struggles, doubts and frustrations' of the early disciples. 'And yet, Christ was this beautiful, powerful, strong, impassioned — at times, angry — loving figure. I always looked at Jesus, like, if God exists, this is how I hope He’d be. So seeing Him portrayed in a real way is always powerful.'
Grylls revealed he has filmed four episodes of The Chosen in the Wild, with the final one featuring Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in the series. Roumie is a Catholic, who has served as a minister, as well as being an actor.
Bear Grylls said the cast members’ stories are 'inspiring', and that filming with them has been 'a different dynamic. [The cast members] are really powerful, and [there’s] a lot of emotion.'
He also said he had had to 'unlearn' ideas from childhood about Christianity being rigid and legalistic, saying: 'Faith is the most freeing and empowering, raw, wild adventure you’ll ever go on.'
