Chosen Teaser Sparks Backlash Over Angel Design
Blue-skinned Indigenous-inspired angelic warriors in a season six teaser have drawn online criticism from conservative commentators ahead of the series' return.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Christianity
A teaser for season six of The Chosen shows blue-skinned angelic warriors with styling inspired by Indigenous American cultures standing down as Jesus allows himself to be arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. The clip prompted online backlash, including accusations of forced diversity and questions about alleged Mormon influences.
Why it matters
The criticism centers on the Book of Mormon, which teaches that ancient Hebrew groups travelled to the Americas around 600BC, a claim with no historical evidence. The reaction highlights ongoing debate over how faith-based productions depict scripture and cultural identity for international Christian audiences.
The teaser shows angelic figures whose weapons, clothing and styling appear inspired by Indigenous American cultures, a choice drawing criticism online. Season six is scheduled to arrive later in November 2026, though no further production specifications were released.
The players
The Chosen
A multi-season television drama portraying the life of Jesus and his followers, produced with a faith-based audience in mind.
Dallas Jenkins
An evangelical Christian filmmaker and the creator of The Chosen, known for building the series around scriptural storytelling.
Angel Studios
A media company founded by Latter-day Saints that formerly distributed The Chosen and has become known for faith-oriented entertainment.
Jon Root
A conservative commentator who publicly questioned the creative decision behind the angel design on social media.
The details
In the teaser, Jesus signals the blue-skinned angelic warriors to stand down as he submits to arrest in Gethsemane, a scene that has drawn scrutiny from conservative commentator Jon Root on social media. The production, created by evangelical Christian Dallas Jenkins, uses script consultants from Catholic, Messianic Jewish and evangelical backgrounds, and previously distributed through Angel Studios, which was founded by Latter-day Saints.
Timeline
Around 600BC: Hebrew groups reportedly travelled to the Americas, according to the Book of Mormon.
November 2, 2026: Teaser released and online backlash begins ahead of the new season.
Later in November 2026: Season six of The Chosen is scheduled to arrive.
Religious Media Debate
The Book of Mormon's claim that Hebrew groups reached the Americas around 600BC has no historical evidence, yet it shapes how critics read The Chosen's Indigenous-inspired angel design. The episode reflects a wider tension over how faith-based productions handle scripture alongside cultural representation.
Viewers planning to watch season six can expect the series to return later this month. Those interested in the production's theological approach may want to compare the series with the scriptural passages it draws on.
The takeaway
Faith-based productions often balance scriptural fidelity with cultural representation, and audiences may weigh those choices differently. Reading the source texts alongside a series can help viewers form their own view of how the story is portrayed.
What happens next
Season six of The Chosen is scheduled to arrive later in November 2026.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in our Christianity section for context on faith-based entertainment.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Courier Mail.
