'The Chosen' cast reveal what's in store for them in season 4: 'There's a lot of joy and sadness'

By Leah MarieAnn Klett, Assistant Editor Thursday, January 25, 2024

Big James

Abe Bueno-Jallad, who plays the role of Jesus’ disciple James, revealed that his character faces even more profound lessons of humility this season.

In the context of following Jesus, James grapples with the clash between his own strengths and the teachings of Jesus. Bueno-Jallad highlighted the tension and palpable emotions that will be prevalent throughout the season, promising both moments of joy and sadness.

“There's even more lessons of humility for James this season,” he told CP. “It’s also a great reminder that our strengths don't always equal great listening. Sometimes we over-exert our strengths, and we overgeneralize what we might be good at, because 'I'm this big ol' strong guy.' I think that we really see James learn his lesson in more than one way, not just from Jesus, but from all the walls that are kind of closing in around him. The tension is palpable, the clash is palpable. This season, there's a lot of joy, there's a lot of sadness.”

This season, James is shown reacting to increasing threats and opposition faced by Jesus, particularly from religious leaders and authorities, the actor said. James grapples with the changing world around him and the unexpected challenges that arise, leading to valuable lessons he must learn, Bueno-Jallad said.

“James is grappling with the fact that, ‘I am following Jesus because that's truly what I believe. And at the same time, the world around me as I knew it is changing.’ So in such a transformative way, and almost a disbelief that, ‘What we're doing is having the reaction that I didn't want, I don't want to be the defender. I wanted to fall on the side that everything was going to be hunky dory, but it's really turning out to be some clashes.’ Some of those lessons hit me over the head.”