There are some roles that don’t end when the cameras stop rolling, and Jonathan Roumie’s portrayal of Jesus on The Chosen is one of them. In a revealing new interview with CCM Magazine, the actor describes how filming the crucifixion for Season 6 left him weeping in church and grappling with what he calls “very real” PTSD.
Exclusive cover package also celebrates “The Songs Inspired by The Chosen: Seasons 1-5” with performances from Franni Cash and Blessing Offor
I’d be in church and I’d look at a crucifix and I’d just start weeping, because I’ve been at that vantage point trying to convince my brain that that was happening to me.”— Jonathan Roumie
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NASHVILLE, TN, UNITED STATES, October 30, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — CCM Magazine has named Jonathan Roumie, star of the global phenomenon The Chosen, as its November 2026 cover artist. The feature is built around an intimate conversation covering the music that influenced him, the profound weight of playing Jesus Christ, and the emotional aftermath of filming the crucifixion scenes for Season 6, which debuts exclusively on Prime Video on November 15.
The November cover package coincides with today’s release of The Songs Inspired by The Chosen: Seasons 1-5, a new album featuring artists and songwriters responding to the series through original music. CCM Magazine will premiere the first live performance of Franni Cash’s “Beautiful Faith” from the album, while Blessing Offor is scheduled to debut his song later this month exclusively at CCM’s YouTube Channel.
For Roumie, seeing the world of The Chosen inspire an entire musical project is both moving and unexpected.
“To see an entire album full of these fantastic, amazingly talented musicians, artists, singers and writers being inspired by the show to create their own music and put their own stamp on their experience of our art is humbling and exciting,” says Roumie.
The interview also looks ahead to the first three episodes of The Chosen Season 6. Roumie describes the crucifixion storyline as the most demanding work of his career, and an experience that followed him far beyond the set.
“Season 6, about the crucifixion, for me was the most amount of sacrificing of my own identity in a role than anything I’ve ever done previously in The Chosen or anything else in my life. And it extended beyond work, beyond filming and playing a character. I’d be in church and I’d look at a crucifix and I’d just start weeping, because I’ve been at that vantage point trying to convince my brain that that was happening to me. And then now it’s like, how do I let go of that? There’s an element of PTSD that is very, very real.”
On November 15, CCM Magazine will release a second portion of the interview in a full-spoiler, after-show-style segment in which Roumie breaks down the season’s first three episodes.
“There are very few actors who have the experience of portraying a character that audiences don’t simply admire, but have a deeply personal relationship with,” says Logan Sekulow, co-owner and co-editor of CCM Magazine. “What fascinated me about sitting down with Jonathan was discovering the person behind one of the most recognizable portrayals of Jesus in modern history. He’s a lifelong rock music fan who once played CBGB and is about to play Carnegie Hall, he’s a filmmaker who spent years working behind the scenes, and an artist who has given nearly a decade of his life to this extraordinary role. We talked about the music that shaped him, the personal sacrifices of bringing the crucifixion to the screen, and what happens when you finally have to say goodbye to a character who has changed your life. It was one of the most fascinating and genuinely moving conversations we’ve had since relaunching CCM Magazine.”
“One of the most important things for us creatively was finding a way to celebrate Jonathan Roumie as an artist while honoring the extraordinary role he has played in bringing Jesus to life for millions of people,” says Amanda Sekulow, co-owner and co-editor of CCM Magazine. “From the design of our set to the photography and the overall visual direction, we wanted to reflect the beauty and artistry of The Chosen while giving Jonathan the space to simply be Jonathan. Music is such an important part of his personal story, so it was especially meaningful to bring that connection full circle with exclusive performances from The Songs Inspired by The Chosen from CCM cover artist Franni Cash and our friend Blessing Offor. It’s a celebration of faith, music, and storytelling, and exactly the kind of creative experience we envisioned when we brought CCM Magazine back.”
The November cover story will be available on November 2, 2026 at www.CCMmagazine.com.
Watch for CCM Magazine’s spoiler-filled follow-up interview on November 15 at www.CCMmagazine.com.
ABOUT CCM MAGAZINE
With each new cover story, CCM Magazine continues its mission of honoring the artists who laid the groundwork for Contemporary Christian Music while shining a spotlight on the next generation carrying it forward. New content is released daily on the website and social media. Originally founded in 1978, CCM Magazine was the first publication to coin the phrase “CCM” for Contemporary Christian Music, covering the Jesus Music movement and the rise of artists who would go on to define a billion-dollar industry. Under new ownership by Logan and Amanda Sekulow as of August 2025, CCM is reimagined for the digital age, building an interactive network of stories, interviews, performances, podcasts and exclusive content for today’s Christian music audience. For more information, visit www.CCMmagazine.com.
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Journalist: Logan Sekulow
Creative Director: Amanda Sekulow
Cover Photographer: Alicia St Gelais
Director of Photography: Patrick Johnson
Music Engineer: Mark Lee Townsend
Brian Mayes
Nashville Publicity Group
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Why it matters: Roumie’s candid admission about the psychological toll of his role underscores the profound weight carried by actors portraying sacred figures, especially when millions of viewers have a deeply personal connection to the character. As The Chosen prepares to conclude its run, this interview offers a rare glimpse into how an artist processes the responsibility of bringing one of history’s most consequential figures to life.
