In this month's faith & family media news, season 5 of PBS' Masterpiece's All Creatures Great and Small announces its premiere date; Angel Studios acquires global distribution rights to the animated The King of Kings, and announces a new Biblical project; and The Chosen releases a S5 teaser and announces a premiere date. On Sunday, Jan. 12, season five of the heartwarming drama All Creatures Great and Small returns to PBS' Masterpiece, continuing the story of veterinarians in the Yorkshire Dales, based on the books by James Herriot (the pen name of real-life vetJames Alfred Wight). From PBS: It is Spring 1941, and we return to Darrowby to find young baby Jimmy keeping everyone in Skeldale House on their toes. Helen is getting the hang of motherhood with James away at RAF Abingdon, Mrs. Hall and Siegfried are enjoying having a little one around and Carmody is now a full-fledged member of the Skeldale family. With World War II now fully underway, Siegfried is taking up the slack at the surgery, Mrs. Hall and Helen are considering their contribution within the community, and Carmody is eager to step up. Siegfried is keen to have everyone back, but Tristan’s surprise return won't be quite as straightforward as he hoped. All seven episodes will also be available to stream on PBS.org, the PBS App, and the PBS MASTERPIECE Prime Video Channel. The season finale (Episode 7) will be made available to screen at a later date. PBS also announced earlier in the year that the show had been renewed for both season 5 and season 6. Both seasons will have six episodes plus a Christmas special (a longtime tradition in the U.K.). On April 11, 2025, the Friday before Palm Sunday, Angel Studios is releasing The King of Kings, an animated film inspired by a story from the creator of A Christmas Carol.WWII Comes to Darrowby
Angel Studios to Distribute The King of Kings
From Angel Studios:
Inspired by Charles Dickens’ short story ‘The Life of Our Lord,’ the film is created by South Korea’s Mofac Animation and is the directorial debut by Seong-ho Jang (JOINT SECURITY AREA).
“As billions around the world observe Holy Week, THE KING OF KINGS will launch in theaters on April 11,” said Jared Geesey, Chief Distribution Officer for Angel Studios. “With its star-studded cast and stunning animation, THE KING OF KINGS has captured the hearts of the Angel Guild, and we are honored to open it at Easter as part of our 2025 slate.”
Charles Dickens wrote the short story “The Life of Our Lord,” and he read it yearly to his family as a Christmas tradition, yet the writing was largely unknown until it was published in 1934, six decades after Dickens’ death. The story follows Dickens, his son Walter, and their cat Willa as they become immersed in the story of Jesus.
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THE KING OF KINGS stars the voice talent of Academy Award-winner Kenneth Branagh (BELFAST), Academy Award-nominee Uma Thurman (PULP FICTION), Pierce Brosnan (TOMORROW NEVER DIES), Golden Globe winner Oscar Isaac (EX MACHINA), Mark Hamill (STAR WARS), Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker (BLACK PANTHER), Academy Award-winner Ben Kingsley (GANDHI), and Roman Griffin Davis (JOJO RABBIT).
Take a look:
In other Angel Studios news, production is underway in Morocco on Bethlehem, the next theatrical project from Catholic director Alejandro Monteverde (Sound of Freedom, Cabrini), who has a five-film partnership with Angel Studios.
From Angel Studios:
BETHLEHEM is an epic saga of an extraordinary young woman who will do anything to protect her newborn son from the murderous King Herod, who is obsessed with finding and killing the child. The film reimagines one of the most infamous stories in history - Herod’s slaughter of the innocents in Bethlehem - as a profound spiritual thriller.
Sam Worthington (AVATAR) will play Herod’s son Antipater, Ben Mendelsohn (ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY) will play the devil Nahash, Gael Garcia Bernal (MOZART IN THE JUNGLE) is Joachim, and the project will introduce Deva Cassel in the role of Mary.
BETHLEHEM is produced by Leo Severino and Eduardo Verasteugi, and will again pair Monteverde with Screenwriter Rod Barr, Cinematographer Gorka Gomez Andreu and Production Designer Carlos Lagunas. The project is executive produced by Noli Molla and Gary Hamilton.
The Chosen Sets a Season 5 Premiere Date
We finally reach Holy Week in the Gospels-based dramatic series The Chosen, created and directed by Dallas Jenkins (The Best Christmas Pageant Ever).
From IndieWire on Monday, Nov. 25:
TheJesus Christ origin story-series “The Chosen”will finally make it toThe Last Supperin Season 5; on Monday, creator Dallas Jenkins gave fans a first look at how the series interpreted what his 5&2 Studios called “the most pivotal week in history.” Hard to argue with that.
“The Chosen: Last Supper (Season 5),” as it is officially titled, will premiere in movie theaters via Fathom Events (in the U.S.) on March 27, 2025; Easter Sunday is April 20, 2025. Trafalgar Releasing is the international distributor.
The fifth season of “The Chosen” will be released in three parts of two, three, and three episodes. The full season has booked a four-week run in the U.S. and Canada, and all episodes will be available throughout the entire run. In other words, you’re gonna have to buy three tickets.
Take a look:
Image: MASTERPIECE All Creatures Great and Small Season 5 Coming Soon to MASTERPIECE on PBS. Photographer: Helen Williams, Courtesy of Playground Entertainment and MASTERPIECE.
Kate O’Hare, alongtime entertainment journalist, is Social Media Content Manager and Blog Editor at Family Theater Productions.
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