THE CHOSEN actor Paras Patel says the audience’s connection to its characters and the cast’s bond have made finishing the series a personal milestone.
“I think people just identify with the characters, their own stories, their obstacles,” he said in a WGN MORNING NEWS interview released Oct. 9.
Patel, who plays Matthew in the drama about Jesus and those closest to Him, said the production had finished shooting the entire series two weeks earlier. He clarified that Season 7, rather than the upcoming sixth season, marks the end of the story.
That leaves viewers with more to experience even as the cast reaches the end of its work together. Patel described the journey from a web series to theatrical releases and a partnership with Prime Video as something he never expected to experience quite this way again.
“It’s just been surreal,” he said of the show’s growth.
The actor said the cast has become close through that shared experience. His comments turned from the scale of the production to the relationships within it, describing a bond that developed alongside the show’s expanding reach.
Related: THE CHOSEN IN THE WILD WITH BEAR GRYLLS: Episode 1.5: “Paras Patel”
For Patel, the audience’s response remains personal as well. Asked about fans in the WGN building, he described his surprise when people tell him how they connect with the series.
“It’s always special to meet different people,” he said.
He explained that Matthew’s struggle to find his place among others gives viewers a way into the story. In Patel’s account, seeing the character finally feel seen helps people recognize their own experiences in a disciple’s journey.
Patel has spoken before about what that connection asks of him personally. In a June 2024 interview with CNA, he said playing Matthew had taught him to listen, give others room to speak and avoid judging people too quickly.
That earlier interview also explored Matthew’s efforts to repair relationships with his parents and Simon Peter. Patel said the character’s desire to make amends can encourage viewers to do the right thing when they face obstacles themselves.
In the WGN conversation, Patel similarly described the characters’ difficulties as something audiences can recognize across different backgrounds and use to think about their own growth.
The next season brings that connection into the account of Jesus’ crucifixion. Patel said the story reaches the heavy material the series has been moving toward, and he urged viewers to continue through it.
“And so that’s where we need our audience to kind of just stay with us,” he said.
According to Prime Video’s release announcement, Season 6 premieres Nov. 15, 2026, with three episodes, followed by weekly releases through Dec. 6. The season finale will receive a standalone theatrical release in spring 2027, while season seven will follow the resurrection. The announcement also lists the first five seasons as available on Prime Video for viewers catching up before the premiere.
Patel also discussed opening up during his adventure with survivalist and television host Bear Grylls. Prime Video’s announcement for THE CHOSEN IN THE WILD WITH BEAR GRYLLS lists Patel among the cast members taking on wilderness challenges in the six-episode series. The platform announced an Aug. 9, 2026, debut with all six episodes available together.
In recalling that experience, Patel said Grylls made him feel safe enough to discuss things he had not expected to share. After years of helping viewers connect with Matthew, he described another setting where trust made a personal conversation possible.
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