The Chosen creator Dallas Jenkins inks wide-ranging deal with Amazon MGM Studios  

The Chosen is a historical drama based on the life of Jesus and those who knew him

Amazon MGM Studios has signed The Chosen creator Dallas Jenkins and his production banner 5&2 Studios to a wide-ranging deal.

With the agreement, Amazon MGM Studios has acquired the exclusive US streaming rights to the first five seasons of religious drama The Chosen, as well as the upcoming sixth and seventh seasons, which will serve as the close to the series.

Amazon also licensed the unscripted series The Chosen In The Wild with Bear Grylls, a six-episode adventure series produced by The Natural Studios and 5&2 Studios.

Outside of those licensing deals, Amazon MGM Studios also struck a first-look deal covering series and films with 5&2 Studios.

The announcement comes ahead of the premiere of The Chosen’s fifth season, which will receive a theatrical debut in the US on March 28 before launching on Prime Video in the US in June. Prime Video said it also has the rights to the upcoming season in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Sub-Saharan Africa, UK and Latin America, with a launch date in those markets set for later in the year.

The Chosen, which is primarily crowdfunded, is a historical drama based on the life of Jesus and those who knew him. Written, directed and produced by Jenkins, the series has become sizeable international hit, with Lionsgate handling international distribution of both the main show and the Bear Grylls-led unscripted projects.

Vernon Sanders, head of television for Amazon MGM Studios, said the company sees “massive opportunities to develop additional faith-inspired content.”