‘The Chosen’ star shares what viewers can expect from ‘intense’ season 6

“The Chosen” star Reza Diako has opened up about what fans can expect in season six of the hit series chronicling the lifetime of Christ — and the emotional toll, he says, will probably be unlike anything viewers have seen to date.

“If you’re the sort that enjoys intensity, then I suppose you’re very excited for what’s coming,” Diako told The Christian Post. “If you may’t handle it, then I’m so sorry, however it’s still going to occur.”

Diako, who plays the Apostle Philip within the Dallas Jenkins-directed series, says the upcoming season of “The Chosen” delves deeper into the ultimate days of Jesus’ life, carrying a level of emotional and spiritual weight that reflects years of character development across the ensemble forged.

“We know where the story goes,” he said. “It’s painful. It’s difficult. But what makes it different with ‘The Chosen’ is that we’ve built a journey with these characters for five, six seasons. So it’s not only a reenactment of an iconic moment. It’s more like losing a member of the family.”

The show, which began as a crowdfunded project, has grow to be a world phenomenon, streaming in over 175 countries and recently partnering with Amazon Prime to achieve even wider audiences. Diako joined the forged in season 4, moving into the role of Philip, a personality he describes as a spiritual outsider who plays a key role in uniting the disciples.

“It’s been quite a ride from day one,” Diako reflected. “Meeting everyone, forged, crew, fans, it truly is like an enormous family. We call it the ‘Chosen family.’”

First introduced in season two, Philip is portrayed as each idiosyncratic and deeply spiritual, a person who has trained under John the Baptist and chosen to follow Jesus not out of coercion, but conviction.

“Philip is interesting because he sought out Jesus,” Diako said. “That’s rare. Most of the disciples needed to be convinced. But he saw something and responded. And I feel that tells you something about his character — that he’s looking for something almost ineffable.”

That desire to hunt, Diako says, mirrors his own life. Having lived in multiple countries and adapted to radically different environments, the actor says he identifies with Philip’s nomadic spirituality.

“I’ve been to 4 different countries and needed to adapt to different cultures and systems,” he said. “When you try this, you begin focusing more on metaphorical and spiritual values than material structures. That helped me connect with Philip, someone who’s needed to let go of comfort and still found a approach to lead.”

Before turning to acting, Diako studied psychology, earned a master’s degree in mental health, and even frolicked in medical school. These experiences, he says, inform his approach to character development, particularly for somebody as emotionally layered as Philip.

“Acting preparation is about curiosity, never stopping the technique of asking questions,” he said. “With my background, whether it’s psychology or medicine, you’re all the time asking: What’s underneath? What motivates someone? What’s their childhood like? Why did Philip leave his home and go to the wilderness with John? Why did he leave that for Jesus? You construct from the bottom up.”

“The Chosen: Last Supper,” which debuted in theaters, brought rising tensions throughout the disciple group. Moments of betrayal, ambition and spiritual crisis shaped much of the narrative. The eight-episode season will debut on Prime Video in three parts over three weeks: the primary two episodes will drop on June 15, followed by three more on June 22, and the ultimate three on June 29.

“Philip is form of the glue,” Diako said. “He’s the one who tries to make everyone feel comfortable, who navigates the strain between Simon Peter, Matthew and others. He is available in with this message of: ‘Let’s deal with the trail we’re walking with Jesus, not the chaos around us.’”

For Diako, some of the moving moments in filming season five was the Last Supper sequence, when Jesus begins to talk openly about His impending death, and the disciples struggle to just accept it.

“They hear it, but they don’t want to grasp,” he said. “That hit me since it’s such a human response. We get signs, we all know the reality deep down, but sometimes we just don’t need to face it. We resist. And yet, we’re still called to maintain walking forward.”

“The Chosen” has long been praised for humanizing the biblical narrative and giving emotional and psychological depth to figures often portrayed as distant or idealized.

That realism, Diako told CP, is vital to the show’s wide appeal.

“One of the explanations I like ‘The Chosen’ is that it makes every little thing so accessible,” he said. “You see the trauma, the confusion, the personality clashes. These are real people — people you could possibly find today in a classroom, a workshop, an office. And yet, they’re brought together for something extraordinary.”

That emotional accessibility, he says, is an element of why the show has continued to resonate across cultures and faith traditions.

“In times like these — with a lot hatred, division, doubt — a show that speaks to faith, unity, and compassion will naturally connect,” Diako said. “From the start, ‘The Chosen’ has focused on the outcast. You see how Jesus treats Mary Magdalene, how he sees Matthew. That touches something in everyone.”

As fans prepare for the heavier themes of season six, Diako said he hopes each longtime viewers and first-time watchers walk away with a renewed sense of hope and perspective.

“Season six will probably be intense, yes,” he said. “But the story itself, the writing, the performances, the guts, has also grown. Everyone knows one another so well now, and that chemistry shows. The stakes are higher. The emotions are deeper. But if you happen to hold on, you’ll see the excellent news that comes next. So hold your chairs tight.”

“This show is growing in every way,” Diako added. “It’s expanding. It’s reaching people. And it’s reminding all of us that the story of Jesus isn’t just sacred; it’s human. And that’s what makes it so powerful.”

© The Christian Post