The global phenomenon of the American biblical TV drama The Chosen has shattered records and transformed how audiences worldwide engage with the Gospel narrative. What began as a historic crowdfunding project has blossomed into the most translated television series in history.
Behind the monumental task of translating and distributing this epic seven-season series to the ends of the earth is the Come and See Foundation. Mark McKane, chief growth officer of the Come and See Foundation, shared the ministry's ambitious vision, its groundbreaking translation model, and the upcoming final seasons of the show in an exclusive interview with China Christian Daily.
Breaking Records to Reach the Global Heart
In September 2025, The Chosen earned its first Guinness World Record for achieving 86 language translations—the most ever for a TV series. Yet, the momentum did not stop there.
"We broke that same record and hit 125 translations of Season 1," McKane said. "It's the most translated show in the history of TV, and it will eventually have the most dubs in television history as well."
The ultimate roadmap for the Come and See Foundation is an ambitious, aspirational goal: 600 languages. Achieving this milestone will allow the series to reach an estimated 95% of the world's population in their native tongues, including Mandarin and Cantonese.
For McKane and his team, this is not a pursuit of commercial success, but a deeply spiritual endeavor.
"There's something really powerful about hearing the story of Jesus in your own language, spoken with the voice of your culture," McKane explained. "It breaks down barriers. It draws you into the story and creates a deep, personal connection that's relatable, recognizable, and intimate."
Upon completion of Season 7, the entire series will comprise 56 hours of content. Translating this massive volume of dialogue across hundreds of languages requires an unprecedented collaboration of technology and human expertise. Currently, the ministry partners with an expanding global network of over 200 theologians, linguists, pastors, and historians. While artificial intelligence and digital translation engines help accelerate the process, McKane stresses that the "human touch" within local communities remains irreplaceable.
The Three Pillars: Free Content for the Global Church
To understand the operational engine behind The Chosen, McKane highlighted the three core foundational pillars of the Come and See Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in October 2022:
The first pillar is "Appeal to the One," which means creating exceptional, high-tier storytelling content that stands out and competes with any mainstream secular production. Then the second pillar is "Speak to the Heart," namely, getting the Gospel story into the distinct "heart languages" of viewers worldwide through strategic ministry partnerships.
The third pillar, "Give to the World," stands out to eradicate financial barriers by keeping all content free. Through The Chosen mobile app, viewers globally can access all seasons and existing translations without cost.
Furthermore, the foundation has launched a dedicated digital hub——tailored to equip the global church. This platform provides churches, ministries, prisons, and schools with free episode clips, parallel scriptures, reading plans, and study guides.
"We want the content in forms in which the church can serve the body of Christ," McKane added.
Impact From the "Bible Belt" to the Slums of Nairobi
Dallas Jenkins, creator, director, and co-writer of The Chosen, has a vision of bringing the gospel to life in a relatable, intimate, and personal way. "He is a deep believer, and he was a pastor in a church," McKane said.
Reflecting on the unexpected trajectory of the show, McKane admitted that even he was initially a skeptic. When his wife first showed him the pilot short, "The Shepherd," during the early crowdfunding days, he doubted a crowdfunded Jesus show could amass the resources to achieve high production values.
"I was wrong," McKane smiled. "By Episode 1 of Season 1, witnessing Mary Magdalene's transformation and Jesus calling her by name, I was hooked."
Today, The Chosen has been viewed over 300 million times, backed by a network of nearly 200,000 global donors. Even in the American "Bible Belt" where church attendance is high, McKane notes that the show is revitalizing faith. It pulls the disciples "out of the stained-glass windows and into the pews," transforming figures of ancient history into relatable humans who struggled with everyday burdens.
"The struggles we encounter every day, the disciples encountered, and the culture encountered, Jesus came to heal us through those struggles." McKane said, "I think that's what the disciples found, by following and listening to his teaching and staying obedient to that."
The impact is even more profound in regions completely isolated from mainstream media. McKane recently returned from a trip to Nairobi, Kenya, where the foundation collaborated with The Bucket Ministry—an organization that delivers clean water filters to families living in major slums like Kawangware and Kibera.
After establishing clean water solutions and building local relationships, the ministry introduced The Chosen dubbed in Swahili, on mobile devices.
"To see multiple families tearing up as they experienced the Gospel in Swahili, in a place without running water or streaming capabilities... it was incredibly impactful," McKane recalled. "They got to sit and see that Jesus is for everyone."
The Road Ahead: Mainstream Challenges and the Final Seasons
When asked about expanding The Chosen's footprint into Asia and specifically China, McKane acknowledged that the region is a daily topic of prayer and strategic discussion.
"Asia is such an important area for us. There is a gospel movement happening across Asia, and we believe The Chosen can be a catalyst," he stated. While the show is currently accessible to individuals in China via personal smartphones, breaking into mainstream domestic streaming networks remains a complex challenge. "It is on our hearts, it's in our desire, and it will happen," McKane affirmed.
Looking toward the immediate future, the production schedule is moving into the defining moments of the New Testament. Having concluded Season 5, which chronicled Holy Week and Judas's betrayal, the series is preparing for a monumental shift.
"Season 6, coming up near the end of this year [2026], will feature an episode about the crucifixion of Jesus," McKane revealed. "It's an amazing telling of not just how Jesus was crucified, but why He was crucified—the greatest act of love in the history of mankind."
Following the crucifixion, Season 7 will conclude the epic series by depicting the resurrection and the ascension.
Having been to China several times, McKane concluded with a blessing for Christians in China: "Keep your eyes on Jesus, the perfecter of our faith. Regardless of our circumstances, Jesus knows you, and he is with you."
