The Chosen, TV series directed by Dallas Jenkins and produced by The Chosen Texas (USA), begins filming in Matera with the executive production of Film Production Consultants (see "On set"). Panorama Film will start work soon on Mel Gibson’s The Resurrection of the Christ as will Lupin Film, on the second season of the series The Saints (on set since 21 May).
The international productions about to start work in Basilicata were announced by Undersecretary Lucia Borgonzoni during a meeting with Margherita Gina Romaniello, President of Lucana Film Commission, Giovanni Mianulli, President of Ente Parco Murgia Materana and representatives of the three executive producers.
The aim of the meeting was to strengthen forms of collaboration between institutions and executive producers in order to streamline authorization procedures, test possible simplifications to the administrative processes to access funds, check availability of local specialized workers, and activate additional professional training courses to meet the needs of the film productions that choose to shoot in these areas.
"Creating synergy and activating collaborations between institutions is good practice; it helps to make the country even more attractive to producers, in addition to the increasing amount of global interest for Italy’s scenic beauty and the calibre of its industry professionals” noted Senator Borgonzoni.
“This was a very important meeting for us,” commented Romaniello and Mianulli: “We thank Undersecretary Borgonzoni for promoting the meeting with the three executive film productions scheduled to work in Matera from June through to early 2026, aware that institutional collaboration always gives certainties to those who choose our area for their projects. Basilicata is increasingly becoming a film location, in particular Matera. The number of internationally renowned directors and productions fascinated by the natural beauty of these places continues to increase.”
Season 6 of The Chosen is shooting in the thousand-year-old Sassi di Matera and parco Murgia Materana. The series tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of those who knew him. The crew and cast will stay in the area for three weeks, to June 23, building a massive production machine, which includes 250 Italian workers and 11 foreigners. The seven-season series is an independent grassroots production financed through crowdfunding; conceived, written and directed by Dallas Jenkins. Translated into 50 languages, The Chosen is distributed by Nexo Studios in more than 40 countries.
Two decades after The Passion, which recounted the last hours of Jesus’s life, Mel Gibson is preparing a return to the city of the Sassi for the next chapter, which will focus on the three days following the crucifixion and resurrection. Jim Caviezel returns as Jesus with Maia Morgenstern as Mary. The production is also scheduled to shoot in Puglia, in the towns of Ginosa, Altamura and Laterza.
The Saints, Season 2 of the documentary miniseries dedicated to the saints, narrated by Martin Scorsese, will be shooting from May 21 to August 5, 2025. In addition to Matera, filming is also scheduled in Rome, Assisi and Custonaci (more here).