The Chosen has been watched by hundreds of millions of people across the world.
And almost everyone wonders the same thing once they start watching:where was this actually filmed?
The short answer:Texas and Utah, not Israel.
Season 1 was shot at Capernaum Studios in Weatherford, Texas. Seasons 3 through 6 are based at the Midlothian Film Campus near Dallas. Season 6 added Italy for the first time.
This guide covers every location, how each set was built, and what fans can visit today.
Let’s get started.
What Is The Chosen?
The Chosen is a crowdfunded drama series about the life of Jesus, told through people around him. Dallas Jenkins created it, and the first episode released in 2017.
The show is planned for seven seasons total.
Fans fund it directly instead of a traditional studio paying for production. That gives the creators full creative control and keeps the show independent.
You can watch it free on The Chosen app or stream it on:Amazon Prime Video, Peacock and The CW.
The show differs from other biblical productions because it gives minor characters full backstories. People who get a single line in scripture become fully developed people on screen.
Why The Chosen Is Filmed in Texas and Utah
The production chose Texas and Utah for three reasons: terrain, cost, and control.
Both states have dry, open land that looks similar to the Middle East. Large sets could be built there without the complications of filming in Israel.
Shooting in Israel would have added permit fees, international travel costs, and shipping expenses for equipment.
For an independently funded show, that was never practical.
Texas also has film incentive programs, experienced local crews, and strong production infrastructure. That combination made it the right choice from the start.
Where Was Season 1 of The Chosen Filmed?
Season 1 filmed at Capernaum Studios in Weatherford, Texas, about 45 minutes west of Fort Worth.
The production built the set specifically for the show. It is named after the biblical town of Capernaum, where Jesus performed many miracles.
The set was intentionally compact. Narrow stone paths, low-ceiling rooms, and tight market stalls created a close, personal atmosphere that matched the tone of the early episodes.
That controlled space worked well for quiet, character-focused scenes.
By Season 2, the crew had used every angle the set offered.
Production designer James Cunningham said they had "shot the heck out of" Capernaum and needed something larger to keep the story moving. That pushed production toward Utah.
What Is the Goshen Set and When Was It Used?
The Goshen set is a three-acre replica of ancient Jerusalem built in the desert near Goshen, Utah. It sits on land owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Church leaders initially did not allow outside productions to use it. After watching The Chosen, they granted the production team access.
The set includes:
- Stone market areas and archways
- Open plazas and public squares
- A space designed to resemble the Pool of Bethesda
- A river area built to evoke the Jordan River
- A section meant to suggest the Garden of Gethsemane
Utah's dry terrain handled much of the visual work before a single structure went up, which kept build costs lower than the scale suggests.
Other Utah locations, including the Bonneville Salt Flats and Little Sahara Recreation Area in Juab County, were used for wide desert scenes needing strong visual contrast.
The Goshen set has been used by other faith-based productions between seasons.
That outside use helped keep it maintained and funded over time. It remains active today and appears in Seasons 2 through 6.
What Is the Midlothian Film Campus?
The Midlothian Film Campus is the main production base for The Chosen from Season 3 onward. It sits near Dallas, Texas, in the city of Midlothian.
The facility started as Camp Hoblitzelle and has since expanded to over 80,000 square feet of soundstages and outdoor sets.
What Does the Midlothian Set Include?
The first-century city built here is far more detailed than Capernaum Studios.
It includes:
- Full streets with residential areas and market sections
- A governor's mansion
- A Roman section with soldier barracks
- Replica Pompeii-style graffiti and a large Neptune mosaic
- A first-century café and butcher shop
- Jewish homes built to period specifications
The production team's long history in the Dallas area has lowered costs and improved logistics each season.
Local crew relationships and a permanent infrastructure make large-scale productions more efficient here than they would be at a temporary location.
When Did The Chosen First Film Outside the United States?
Season 6 marked the first time The Chosen filmed outside the United States. Dallas Jenkins confirmed that production traveled to Italy for specific scenes.
The bulk of Season 6 still took place at the Midlothian Film Campus and in Utah, but Italy added visual range that the Texas and Utah sets could not provide.
Articles published before 2024 that describe The Chosen as filming only in Texas and Utah are out of date.
How Large Has the Production Grown?
The numbers behind The Chosen show how much it has scaled since Season 1.
Season 6 raised just over $70 million in crowdfunded support. That is roughly $10 million more than Season 5.
The growth in funding has allowed the production to expand its sets, crew size, and overall scope each year.
One production detail stands out in Season 6: around 600 extras from countries across the world traveled to set, brought their own period clothing, and worked without pay.
They came as participants in the project rather than hired crew. That level of involvement is nearly unheard of in modern television.
The combination of crowdfunding, volunteer participation, and strategic location choices lets the show achieve a large production scale without a traditional studio budget.
Which Locations Were Used in Each Season?
This table is going to help you have a quick look at the locations:
| Season | Primary Location | Secondary Location | Notes |
| 1 | Capernaum Studios, Weatherford, TX | — | Christmas special also filmed here |
| 2 | Capernaum Studios, Weatherford, TX | Goshen Set, Utah | Goshen used for Sermon on the Mount |
| 3 | Midlothian Film Campus, TX | Goshen Set, Utah | First season at Midlothian |
| 4 | Midlothian Film Campus, TX | Goshen Set, Utah | — |
| 5 | Midlothian Film Campus, TX | Goshen Set, Utah | — |
| 6 | Midlothian Film Campus, TX | Goshen Set, Utah | First season with Italy |
Where Is The Chosen Filmed Right Now?
The current main production base is the Midlothian Film Campus in Midlothian, Texas. Seasons 3 through 6 have all centered on that facility.
The Goshen set in Utah remains active for scenes requiring large outdoor environments or specific landscape features.
As the story moves toward its planned conclusion in Season 7, the production may continue adding international locations where the script calls for them.
Italy's inclusion in Season 6 shows the team is willing to travel when Texas and Utah cannot provide what the story needs.
Can Fans Visit The Chosen Filming Locations?
Capernaum Studios in Weatherford, Texas is open for guided tours. Visitors can walk through the village streets and market sections from Season 1.
The studio is about 45 minutes west of Fort Worth and is accessible for individuals and groups.
The Goshen set in Utah has limited public access. It is an active filming location, and unannounced visits are not appropriate.
The Chosen's official social media accounts are the most reliable source for any scheduled open days.
The Midlothian Film Campus is not open for general tours. It is a working production facility.
The Chosen's official website has posted information about special fan events in the past, so checking there is the best way to stay informed.
Conclusion
The Chosen pulled off something genuinely impressive: a first-century world built in Texas and
Utah that convinces millions of viewers they are watching something shot in the Middle East. The sets, the landscape choices, and the production design all earn that illusion.
If you have visited any of these locations, drop your experience in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Chosen filmed in Israel?
No. All major filming has taken place in Texas and Utah, with Season 6 adding Italy as a new location.
Why does The Chosen look like it was filmed in Israel?
The desert terrain of Texas and Utah closely resembles the Middle East, and the production's detailed set design does the rest.
Where is The Chosen currently being filmed?
The main production base is the Midlothian Film Campus in Midlothian, Texas. Season 6 also filmed in Utah and Italy.
How many seasons will The Chosen have?
The show is projected to run for seven seasons total.
