'This is the lion’s den': Luke Dimyan on 'The Chosen' season 5, Judas’ internal conflict

For hundreds of years, Judas Iscariot has been synonymous with betrayal. However for Luke Dimyan, who portrays Judas in “The Chosen,” the position is much extra advanced than a single act of treachery. 

Because the groundbreaking collection created by Dallas Jenkins enters its fifth season, the 28-year-old actor mentioned he’s decided to deliver depth and humanity to one among historical past’s most notorious figures.

“I’ve numerous due to the writers for that,” Dimyan instructed The Christian Publish. “They already sprinkled numerous nuances into his story. They work loads with discovery, discovering alternative ways to painting him and showcase totally different sides — what might result in a way of betrayal in him.”

Including a deeply human dimension to one of many Bible’s most notorious figures is not any small feat, however the important thing to Judas lies in understanding his loyalties, in keeping with Dimyan.

“I all the time attempt to deal with conserving his targets very clear, the issues that he is loyal to: Jesus, to his brothers that encompass him, but in addition to his tradition and folks,” he defined. “Being Jewish, and having a powerful connection and delight in that, in a time of navy occupation with Rome, that impacts not solely how he sees his folks’s place on the earth, but in addition how he feels about himself.”

Season 5 of “The Chosen: Final Supper” follows Holy Week, the week main as much as Christ’s crucifixion, and can decide up the place season 4 ended.

Within the season 4 finale, Jesus and His Apostles journey to Bethany to consolation Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary, following Lazarus’ dying 4 days earlier. At Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus performs the miracle of elevating him from the useless. Information of this reaches the Sanhedrin, and the Excessive Priest begins plotting to have Jesus handed over to the Romans for execution.

With season 5, Jonathan Roumie returns to star as Jesus, together with Shahar Isaac as Simon, Paras Patel as Matthew, Elizabeth Tabish as Mary Magdalene, and extra. The season will probably be launched in three components: half one releases on March 28; half two on April 4, and half three on April 11.

This season, as Judas prepares for the last word act of betrayal, “his views and the issues that he thought can be absolute truths are beginning to shift and develop into unbalanced,” Dimyan mentioned. 

“He’s beginning to query what their final aim is. For the reason that disciples — and he — don’t have the hindsight that everybody who’s learn the Bible has, they don’t actually see what’s coming. Not simply the crucifixion, however Jesus’ whole plan. Jesus is inflicting a lot division, difficult the Pharisees and the temple authorities, as a substitute of unifying our folks. I feel that leaves Judas [and the other disciples] a bit misplaced, annoyed and confused about their objective.”

Dimyan, a Coptic Egyptian, mentioned he needs viewers to see Judas as a human particular person: struggling, questioning and trying to find that means within the shadow of historical past’s most pivotal second. He mentioned that all through the collection, he is sought to painting the disciple who betrays Jesus as advanced, torn between his love for the Son of God and the alternatives that lead him down a tragic path.

“I used to be coming at him purely from a private and emotional perspective,” he shared. “I had no recollection or understanding of Jewish tradition beforehand. However studying the traditions, the mindsets, particularly what it meant to be Jewish within the first century underneath Roman occupation, it gave me an entire new understanding of how somebody like Judas might need thought.”

With “The Chosen” coming into its remaining stretch earlier than Jesus’ crucifixion, season 5 is designed to lift the stakes each visually and narratively. Jenkins beforehand instructed CP that viewers will see Jesus “like by no means earlier than” as he challenges each the spiritual and political institutions with unprecedented drive.

“That is the lion’s den,” Dimyan mentioned. “We’ve been via hardships, particularly final season, however that is the place all of the preparation has led. That is the ultimate act earlier than the catalysts that result in the final two seasons. Not solely is everybody on edge, realizing this can be it, however the way in which we’re filming it’s totally different.

“Our cinematographer, Akis [Konstantakopoulos], had a movie digicam and would arrange his shot listing in a brand new manner […] the way in which we’re filming that is extraordinarily totally different. It has really upped the size from the previous 4 seasons mixed. It’s cinematic. For those who see it in theaters, I feel it’s going to be one thing such as you’ve by no means seen earlier than.”

As “The Chosen: Final Supper” prepares for launch, Dimyan mentioned he hopes followers make it to the theaters to observe it on the large display. 

“I actually simply hope they get pleasure from it,” he says. “I do know persons are excited for the emotional and non secular facets. I do know everybody’s bringing their tissue packing containers. However as a performer, I simply hope that wherever they watch it — whether or not at dwelling or in theaters — they stroll away feeling fulfilled, that they simply loved their time. I hope they’ve a favourite episode or second they wish to come again to in a 12 months. Our workforce put numerous work into it, and I genuinely assume that is our greatest season but.”

Click on right here to study extra about “The Chosen: The Final Supper.”