In a new spinoff announced during last weekend’s “The Chosen Insiders’ Conference” in Orlando, Florida, survival expert Bear Grylls is teaming up with the hit faith-based series to give fans an unprecedented look at the show’s cast.
The series, titled “The Chosen in the Wild,” will follow the actors from the blockbuster series, which has been viewed by more than 235 million people across the globe, as they embark on outdoor adventures with Grylls.
“The magic of my day job before doing this with ‘The Chosen’ is that ‘Running Wild’ allows you to get to know your favorite Hollywood stars or sports stars in a way you wouldn’t do normally,” Grylls explained. “And I think being able to bring that spirit to doing a bespoke version of ‘Running Wild with The Chosen’ just gives fans a chance to get to know the characters that they love so much.
Grylls, who is outspoken about his faith, expressed his gratitude to God for the opportunities that have opened to him since he first discovered a childhood love of climbing and jumping off ledges.
“I feel it’s the only job I could ever do,” he said. “I’m so grateful to the Almighty to have a job that I love. It’s never felt like a job. It led me to the highest mountain the world, to Everest, eventually through the military, through the British Special Forces, and then eventually on to ‘Man Vs. Wild’ and ‘Running Wild’ type shows.”
Director Dallas Jenkins, who created “The Chosen,” who will appear in an episode, is excited about the opportunity for fans of the series to see the cast outside of their biblical habitat.
“What we want to do here is it puts people outside of their comfort zone, and that’s what ‘The Chosen has been about,” Jenkins said. “That’s what I just mentioned. Out of our comfort zone, that’s where vulnerability takes place. That’s where intimacy takes place.”
Actress Elizabeth Tabish, who plays the role of Mary Magdalene on the series, was nervous at first about the outdoor challenges but found herself reconnecting with her adventurous spirit. “We climbed one cliff together, and she had tears coming down her eyes,” Grylls said. As Tabish conquered her fear, she rediscovered a joy of climbing from her childhood, he said.
“I was so resistant to doing this,” Tabish said. “I kept telling everyone, ‘ I don’t want to do it. I’m the wrong person for doing it. Find someone else.’ And finally, talking with Bear’s safety team and realizing how safe they are, that I’m in such good, capable hands, kind of kick started this, this sense of like, trusting and in faith and trusting others, which is kind of a hard thing to do sometimes.”
The diverse cast of “The Chosen” brought unique perspectives to their wilderness experiences. Paras Patel, who plays Matthew, said the opportunity came at the right time. After doing five seasons of the show, he was looking for a new adventure to go along with it.
“Doing this adventure with Bear was everything I hoped for and more, and we had amazing conversations,” he said. “He put me in some challenges that you will all enjoy, but from it, I grew from it. I learned from it, and I would do it again.”
Noah James (Andrew) was initially excited but then was served a “slice of humble pie” as he confronted his fears. Beyond the wilderness, however, he found the personal connection with Grylls a great bonus.
“Obviously it’s about the adventure and the wilderness stuff, and there is such an amazing guide not only helping us with all of the crazy stuff, but then when we have the moments to just sit and really talk heart to heart,” he said. “It felt like we really could talk about stuff that honestly, throughout the whole time with ‘The Chosen’ I haven’t even dive into some of those questions.”
“The Chosen in the Wild” will offer viewers intimate glimpses into the lives of the show’s cast members as they face new challenges alongside the world’s most famous adventurer.
The official synopsis for “The Chosen in the Wild” follows:
In the six-episode unscripted adventure series, produced by The Natural Studios in association with 5&2 Studios, celebrity survivalist and adventurer Bear Grylls (Emmy®-nominated Running Wild with Bear Grylls and You vs. Wild, Man vs. Wild) takes an immersive journey with the cast and creator of The Chosen, providing a unique exploration of the global hit series. In each episode, Grylls ventures into the wild with one cast member while exploring their personal stories and diving deeper into their own perspectives on the series and the characters they portray.