MOVIES & SERIESWhy Hollywood Actors Keep Finding God on Faith Film Sets
Elijah Alexander’s life was changed by a faith-based production. He’s not the only one.
Elijah Alexander never expected that working on a faith film set would change his life.
The actor, who was raised Jewish and did not consider himself a Christian when he joined the cast of The Chosen, signed on to portray Atticus, a Roman investigator determined to uncover the truth about Jesus.
What began as a role eventually became something much more personal.
Somewhere between studying the scripts, portraying a skeptic searching for answers, and spending years immersed in the story of Christ, something unexpected happened.
Alexander found himself believing it too.
As director Dallas Jenkins later revealed, Alexander eventually sent him a message that read: “For the first time in my life, I fully believe and I am His now.”
Today, that journey has brought him to another biblical story.
Audiences will next see Alexander portray King Nebuchadnezzar in the upcoming epic Daniel and the Fiery Furnace from the Kooman Brothers and EKKL Entertainment.
But his story raises a fascinating question: Why do so many actors describe faith film sets as places where their own lives are unexpectedly transformed?
When Faith Moves Beyond the Script
Over the past several years, a growing number of actors, crew members, and filmmakers have shared stories of how working on faith-based productions affected them in ways they never anticipated. What started as a job often became a journey—one that changed far more than their career.
Take actor Jonathan Roumie.
While filming the iconic mass baptism scene for Jesus Revolution, Roumie wasn’t simply portraying evangelist Lonnie Frisbee. According to the actor, people on set began seeking baptism in real life.
Some were baptized while cameras were rolling. Others stepped into the water moments after filming stopped. Roumie later described the experience as one of the most significant scenes he had ever filmed, describing it as “an extraordinary thing to witness.”
What was supposed to be a recreation of a spiritual awakening became, for some cast and crew members, a spiritual awakening of its own.
A Different Kind of Set
For The Chosen creator Dallas Jenkins, stories like these aren’t entirely surprising. Jenkins has said that he and his wife Amanda have always viewed the cast and crew as their “first target of ministry“—even before the audience.
The goal wasn’t simply to tell a story about faith. It was to create an environment where faith could be lived, discussed, and experienced by the people helping bring that story to life.
Actor Neal McDonough believes that difference is part of what makes faith-based productions unique.
Throughout his career, McDonough has been outspoken about his Christian convictions, even when doing so came at a professional cost. More recently, he has gravitated toward projects that create space for deeper conversations about purpose, truth, and God.
Speaking about faith-centered entertainment, McDonough praised projects that allow people to “talk about things and talk through these things,” describing them as places where questions of faith can be explored openly rather than hidden away.
That may help explain why stories like Elijah Alexander’s and Jonathan Roumie’s continue to emerge. In an industry where deeply personal beliefs are often kept private, faith film sets can create space for conversations that might never happen otherwise.
And when people spend months immersed in stories about redemption, forgiveness, sacrifice, and hope—and are surrounded by others willing to discuss those ideas openly—the conversations don’t always stay confined to the script.
Sometimes it sparks questions. Sometimes it strengthens faith.
And sometimes, as Elijah Alexander discovered, it changes a life forever.
Start Your Family’s Journey with EKKL
Inspired by stories of courage, faith, and hope? Become an EKKL member today and unlock a growing library of uplifting movies and series, award-winning podcasts, Daily Devotionals, and exclusive member perks.
