The highly popular Christian drama series The Chosen will soon air on The CW. According to Variety, the three existing seasons of The Chosen will start airing on the network on Sunday, July 16 at 8 P.M. It will continue airing in that timeslot until the season three finale airs on Christmas Eve. The CW will be the first U.S. broadcaster to air the crowd-funded Biblical epic. The network, best known for shows such as Riverdale and the many shows of the Arrowverse, is seeking to reinvent itself and appeal to a demographic beyond its current audience. That audience ranges from 18 to 34. The Chosen will likely help with that effort, given its 110 million viewers across 175 countries.
The CW Adds The Chosen to Its Rebranding Effort
The CW has undergone many changes since it was taken over by Nexstar Media Group in 2022. This has included the cancellation of several of its shows and attempts to expand beyond its young adult demographic. The driving forces for the networks have been teen dramas (i.e., Riverdale) and superhero shows (i.e., Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl). However, Riverdale is ending later this year. The Flash, which many consider the last staple series of the Arrowverse, ended last month after nine seasons. And while the Arrowverse still has spin-offs like Gotham Knights and Superman & Lois, neither show has a particularly bright future in store for the network.
The CW has been forced to change its strategy, and airing a series like The Chosen is a big part of that strategy. Brad Schwartz, president of entertainment for The CW, said in a statement:
“The Chosen is based on the biggest IP of all time and is truly a one-of-a-kind series that tells this historically significant story in a captivating, dramatic and premium way. This show has already connected deeply with viewers around the world, and The CW will expand its audience even further.”
The Chosen, which started as a crowd-funded series, was recently acquired by Lionsgate.
