CELEBRITIES
Jonathan Roumie on why ‘The Chosen’ and ‘Jesus Revolution’ are so popular
The actor, who plays Jesus and Christian revolutionary figure Lonnie Frisbee, shared his thoughts on why the projects are so successful.
Jonathan Roumie has had plenty of time to reflect on the popularity of several of his recent projects.
The actor has starred in several faith-based productions, including ‘The Chosen’ and ‘Jesus Revolution’.
Jonathan Roumie comments on spiritual hunger
At the red carpet premiere of ‘Jesus Revolution’, a true story about Lonnie Frisbee, the hippie who radicalized Christianity at the time of the sexual revolution in the ‘60s, the actor, who plays Frisbee in the film, reflected on why even mainstream people are so interested in content about Jesus.
Commenting on the popularity of the project, Roumie said that people are starving for this kind of content because it has been removed from the entertainment industry for decades.
“I think people are starving for this kind of content,” Roumie said. “They’re starving in the culture for the presence of God once more, because he’s been so inextricably removed over the last several decades.”
Roumie emphasized that God has a much bigger plan than all that.
“God’s like, ‘No, that’s not how the story goes. I’m gonna fire some people up,’” the actor who plays Jesus continued. “You read what’s going on in Kentucky, at the universities, and spreading and then the timing of this film.”
“Without a doubt, God’s doing something right now.”
Jonathan Roumie on ‘Jesus Revolution’
When he was offered the role and read the script, Roumie felt it was a huge honor to play the part.
“It’s a magnetic moment in spiritual history, in American history,” Roumie said. “I was like, ‘How can I honor this the best I can?’”
“[Frisbee is a ] “very complex human being. “Brilliant, gifted, spiritually-powerful. His humanity leaked out of him every step of the way.”
What is ‘Jesus Revolution’ about?
Roumie’s film ‘Jesus Revolution’, which was released in theaters in February 2023, is a story about what the Patheos publication calls “a movement of God’s love [...] a love that knows no boundaries”.
“It absolutely speaks to the infinite love, mercy and compassion of God,” Roumie said about the film. “I think when people focus on God and not on the differences that they perceive between their version or their understanding of God, and another denominational or non-denominational or even faith understanding of God.”
“When you get those out of the way, when you can just focus on God, you realize we’re all here trying to do the same thing.”