Selection’s Religion & Media Influence Report 2025

Showrunners, stand-ups
Mo

The duo are the artistic pressure behind Netflix’s “Mo,” which was primarily based on Palestinian American Amer’s personal experiences and his household. In his newest stand-up particular, “Wild World,” he explores free speech and the sometimes-absurd challenges confronted by American Arabs and Muslims within the U.S. Youssef’s new sequence, the animated “#1 Completely happy Household USA,” follows a Muslim household navigating residing within the U.S. within the early 2000s. Regardless of the choice for “Mo” to handle the Israeli conflict in Gaza instantly, the battle serves as a background ingredient. As a substitute, the season focuses on answering a key query Youssef talked about to Selection, which he thought-about all through the writing course of: “What can a scripted comedy try this nothing else can do?”

Neal Harmon
Co-founder & CEO

Jordan Harmon
Co-founder & president

Jeff Harmon
CCO

Angel Studios

Angel Studios is redefining faith-driven cinema, proving values-driven tales can thrive mainstream. With over 1.6 million members, their mission is to share tales that “amplify mild” by means of vast theatrical releases and the Angel App. Their numerous slate consists of the animated biblical function “The King of Kings,” which achieved a $60 million-plus home gross and a report opening weekend, demonstrating the ability of their united viewers and distinctive mannequin. “We constructed a platform the place we let the viewers determine, after which we gave them the keys. … At a time when it’s troublesome for something however mega-budget franchises to achieve the cinema, there’s a world values-driven viewers hungry for family-friendly storytelling,” the say in a joint assertion.

Head of focused content material
Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios

The sequence “Home of David” was a success for Amazon Prime Video, validating its push so as to add extra exhibits that instantly contact on religion and spirituality points. Prime Video additionally landed unique U.S. streaming rights to Bible epic “The Chosen,” in addition to unscripted spinoff “The Chosen within the Wild With Bear Grylls,” a part of a brand new wide-ranging take care of sequence producer 5&2 Studios. “Being a part of these initiatives is greater than creating nice tv — it’s about serving an often-overlooked religion viewers with elevated, high-quality storytelling that resonates deeply,” she says. “These exhibits don’t simply entertain; they modify lives in significant and measurable methods, reminding me every single day why this work issues.”

Showrunner
Lengthy Story Brief

With “BoJack Horseman,” Bob-Waksberg movingly handled habit, sexuality, childhood trauma and a bunch of different points. In his new animated sequence, “Lengthy Brief Story,” he explored Judaism and non secular achievement by means of a Bay Space household. “It’s about grief, and it’s about reminiscence,” he says. “I wished to inform a narrative about individuals who have been non secular, who noticed faith, nevertheless it wasn’t about ‘God will get mad at me,’ or ‘as a result of I consider, I’ve religion.’ That felt like a nook price exploring and pushing the sides out of and depicting,” he instructed Selection in August.

Jason Momoa
Actor, showrunner

Thomas Pa’a Sibbett
Showrunner

Chief of Battle

Between the attractive surroundings and the bloody battles, the Apple TV sequence superbly depicted the significance of the historical past, tradition and spirituality of the Hawaiian Islands. Momoa led the sequence, in regards to the unification of the islands and spoke about many outstanding moments taking place on set — together with how the Mauna Loa volcano erupted throughout filming, which the pair took as a blessing from the ancestors. “Our tales are common. Studios don’t must freak out that Indigenous tales are an outsider’s perspective as a result of they aren’t. We’re of your communities, we’re your co-workers, your bosses, you eat at our eating places, and our youngsters play on the identical sports activities groups. I promise you, audiences will see themselves within the tales we create as a result of the human situation is common,” says Momoa. Sibbett provides: “I consider the world is primed for therapeutic. We, as a society, share within the generational trauma of our shared experiences and historical past. We have to heal and get well collectively, particularly in right now’s political local weather. Storytelling is a method we are able to stand in one another’s footwear, hear what one another has to say, and see ourselves within the different’s battle so we are able to start to proper the wrongs and mutually heal.”

Creator
Darkish Winds

Grounded in authenticity, Roland’s hit adaptation of Tony Hillerman’s ebook sequence “Leaphorn & Chee” is a essential and scores hit, that includes a largely Indigenous forged led by Zahn McClarnon; Roland is himself Chickasaw. Set in 1971 on the Navajo Nation, it plumbs Native American historical past, tradition, customs and spirituality. “What was distinctive about it was the chance to inform a narrative within the Native neighborhood and not using a white character bringing you into the neighborhood and experiencing it by means of the white character’s standpoint,” Roland stated in a 2022 interview. As a substitute, the attitude is that of the Native character “who grew up there, lived there and polices that atmosphere.”

Founder, CEO
DeVon Franklin Leisure

Franklin, Netflix and Tyler Perry teamed in a partnership to ship faith-forward movies, with the primary being the hit “Ruth & Boaz,” the second movie, “Tis So Candy,” starring Taraji P. Henson, is at present in manufacturing, and the romantic comedy “Relationship Objectives” premieres on Prime Video Feb. 4. Franklin additionally has a first-look take care of CBS TV Studios and is growing a reboot of “seventh Heaven” in collaboration with Jessica Biel. “What excites me most is the chance to create work that genuinely uplifts folks’s spirits. Subsequent yr, I’ve an autobiographical audiobook with Audible referred to as ‘Be True, Relationship Objectives,’” he says. “We’re residing in difficult occasions, and I consider leisure has an actual objective: to inspire us, to present us hope, and to remind us of optimism. Having the ability to convey these sorts of tales into the world proper now’s one thing I’m extremely grateful for.”

Government producers
The Trustworthy

“The Trustworthy,” a biblical drama arriving March 2026, tells the story of Genesis by means of the lens of the brave, flawed ladies whose descendants formed Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This six-episode sequence, airing over Easter/Passover on Fox, is outlined by the robust female-driven storytelling. It explores timeless themes of affection, marriage, youngsters and temptation made surprisingly fashionable and relatable for a brand new era. “What touched us probably the most about these characters is that the issues they should overcome — whether or not it focuses on love, perseverance or some other facet of human nature — will not be so dissimilar to what we face right now,” they are saying in a joint assertion.

Host

Grylls has redefined how religion can reside in mainstream leisure by seamlessly integrating it into family-friendly, adventure-driven storytelling. One of many world’s most recognizable adventurers, he has leveraged his world platform and manufacturing powerhouse, the Pure Studios, to ship tales that unite religion, household and journey. Amongst them, “Chosen within the Wild” — bridging mainstream and religion audiences by putting “The Chosen” actors in survival challenges — and the six-part TV sequence “Story of Jesus: Refugee, Renegade, Redeemer” on TBN. “When TV is nearly scores or leisure with no objective, it’s empty,” he says. “It’s vital for me to make use of leisure as a automobile to assist, encourage
and empower.”

Spike Lee
Director

Denzel Washington
Actor

Highest 2 Lowest

Frequent collaborators Spike Lee and Denzel Washington reunited for the movie “Highest 2 Lowest,” which follows Washington as a businessman deciding whether or not or to not use his wealth to additional his profession or save a toddler’s life. Lee’s kidnapping drama is loosely primarily based on Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 “Excessive and Low.” Lee and Washington sort out stark ethical questions and human frailty — themes that each Lee and Washington have wrestled with of their careers. Lee instructed Time journal that on the finish of the movie, Washington’s music producer character regains his pleasure he had at the beginning of his profession. “He’s beginning with a brand-new label. It’s small, however he’s gonna do it the way in which that feels good when his head lies on the pillow at evening. He’s
at peace.”

Author, producer, director
The Lifetime of Chuck

One wouldn’t anticipate a collaboration from Masters of Horror Stephen King and Mike Flanagan to provide such a life-affirming, inspirational movie. However in inspecting the lifetime of an atypical man, “The Lifetime of Chuck” requested large questions mainstream cinema not often touches. The author-director admits he initially perceived the story – which begins with the tip of the world – to be miserable. “However I’m so glad I caught with the story as a result of, by the tip of it, I used to be shocked that I’d been taken from that place into an entire completely different headspace of optimism, gratitude and pleasure.”

Adam Fogelson
Chair, Movement Image Group

Jim Packer
President, worldwide tv distribution

Lionsgate

“The Chosen” is an anchor property in constructing out Lionsgate’s faith-based vertical in movie and TV. This yr, Packer and his workforce negotiated a groundbreaking, multifaceted licensing deal for “The Chosen” with Amazon Prime, marking a first-of-its-kind method that mixed scripted sequence, unscripted content material and two function movies launched theatrically. “We’re additionally persevering with our main partnership with Mel Gibson’s Icon Prods. for the studio to distribute ‘The Ardour of the Christ,’ and we’re overseeing worldwide tv licensing for ‘The Resurrection of the Christ: Components One & Two,’” says Packer. Fogelson continued Lionsgate’s decade-long take care of the Erwin brothers and Kingdom Story Firm, greenlighting “I Can Solely Think about 2.” “There may be an distinctive pool of expertise working on this area, with a few of the most artistic and dynamic filmmakers within the trade selecting to inform faith-based tales,” says Fogelson. “Folks of religion make up a large phase of the inhabitants and, as a worldwide media firm, it’s important for us to incorporate tales that resonate for them in our portfolio.”

Creator, star
Man Like Mobeen

The British comedian’s award-winning hit sequence “Man Like Mobeen” wrapped its fifth and remaining season on BBC Three within the U.Okay. however has reached worldwide audiences on Netflix. The sequence not solely follows the lifetime of Pakistani ex-con Mobeen, it triggers laughs whereas additionally illuminating the problems going through the working class and Muslims. “I stumbled into the leisure trade with one goal in thoughts: authenticity in any respect prices. In consequence, when ‘Man Like Mobeen’ was commissioned, I felt a private accountability to make sure that Muslim tales and characters made it to our audiences with out being diluted,” he says. “Being a former drug vendor shouldn’t be the whole thing of somebody’s story. Even probably the most troubling circumstances harbors levity, household and love. Mobeen’s means to acknowledge his errors however nonetheless be drawn again into them is the story of working-class life everywhere in the world. It’s why I feel so many individuals related with the present from throughout the globe.”

Creator
Muslim Matchmaker

Not simply one other relationship present, the Hulu actuality sequence follows Hoda Abrahim and Yasmin Elhady as they discover potential mates for his or her Muslim clientele. Oscar-nominated Mundhra’s resume is robust on displaying the world a various neighborhood of individuals, whether or not by means of relationship exhibits — she’s produced Indian and Jewish matchmaking sequence — or sequence just like the “The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh.” “I wished to indicate Muslims who aren’t in battle with their religion or rejecting it, however who’re absolutely embracing it whereas additionally navigating fashionable life, profession ambitions, and the seek for love,” she says.

Showrunners
No person Needs This

The hit Netflix sequence, primarily based on the true lifetime of creator Erin Foster, facilities on a girl with no explicit non secular or non secular beliefs, who falls in love with a rabbi. Season 1 confirmed how they navigated their relationship, whereas Season 2 takes their relationship even deeper, with questions of whether or not agnostic Joanne (Kristen Bell) will convert of Judaism, and the way that may affect Noah’s (Adam Brody) profession as a rabbi. Reviewers and audiences have praised Season 2’s deepening of the supporting characters. “Bruce and I got here to it as followers, and so we didn’t need to change so much. The present of the second season is with the ability to inform extra aspect character tales,” Konner instructed Elle lately.

R. Scott Gemmill, John Wells
Creators

Noah Wyle
Actor, creator

The Pitt

This beloved tackle the medical drama didn’t draw back from depicting the results of trauma and grief and the toll it takes on one’s psychological well being. That is most clear within the case of Dr. Robby, portrayed by Wyle, who begins to crack throughout his 15-hour shift. Gemmill notes, “Essentially the most gratifying factor I’ve heard again from the audiences has come from the healthcare employees who really feel seen and heard and, in some instances, recognizing their very own struggles and realizing they too might use some skilled assist coping with the stressors of the job.”

Derek Cianfrance, Kirt Gunn
Director, writers

Roofman

“Roofman” deftly explores religion, morality and forgiveness. It’s the true story of burglar Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum), who camped out in a Toys R Us hiding from the police however discovered some peace with Leigh (Kirsten Dunst) and her church. “That decision to come back residence, to be welcomed, to be redeemed is an actual factor. Once we lose it, we lose our identification and our means to just accept one another. I feel that’s the a part of this story I wished to inform,” says Gunn. “I’ve by no means met a hero or a villain in actual life, simply folks. And in researching this story, I interviewed a few of the individuals who have been instantly affected by Jeff’s dangerous selections and, someway, they responded to his large errors with even larger grace and forgiveness. That was an inspiring notion, to me, throughout these divided occasions,” says Cianfrance.

Showrunners
Any individual Someplace

The HBO sequence, which simply ended after three seasons, facilities on Sam (Bridget Everett), who returns to her hometown in Kansas after her sister’s demise from most cancers. She’s depressed and harassed about her life, and reconnects with previous mates and her surviving sister, whose issues and points are combined with good previous Midwestern religion, a religion that’s inclusive and joyous. “I grew up within the church in rural Minnesota; Jeff Hiller who performs Joel grew up within the church in Texas. These are the sophisticated those that we all know and love, however that we haven’t at all times seen represented in sophisticated and genuine methods. There’s a lot extra variety to religion communities than what you usually see depicted; like queer folks of religion within the Midwest, to make use of ‘Any individual Someplace’ for example,” says Thureen.

Creator
Activity

Mark Ruffalo’s former priest — impressed by Ingelsby’s uncle, “a really compassionate, inclusive priest,” he says — turned FBI agent on HBO’s hit sequence “Activity” wrestles with alcohol, parenthood, crime, homicide and demise. He’s advanced however his religion — fractured, to make certain — helps maintain him by means of myriad tragedies. The present has been renewed for Season 2. “I used to be excited by telling a narrative a few man whose life was outlined by religion. As a younger man, Tom devoted himself to serving God. He joined the seminary and have become a priest and served a neighborhood. After which a tragic occasion happens, and he involves query all the pieces he noticed as reality in his life. He questions the God he devoted his life to. The story is about Tom discovering a approach again to religion. Now ‘religion’ doesn’t simply imply a non secular religion. On this story, it’s a religion in goodness,” says Ingelsby.

Government producers
The Twisted Story of Amanda Knox

Steinberg and Knox teamed for the docuseries, primarily based on the true story of Knox’s 2007 wrongful conviction for the homicide of her roommate whereas finding out overseas. Knox was given important company in shaping the narrative, upending perceptions of how the media painted her. Knox says it’s “a narrative of reconciliation in opposition to all odds. It reveals how compassion, towards oneself and even towards those that have harmed us, can alchemize devastating injustice right into a path of liberation. It exhibits how resilience can remodel struggling into profound non secular development… Regardless of being a narrative about extraordinary circumstances, it’s a common lesson about exhausting truths realized the exhausting approach.” Steinberg notes: “As our nation’s political and cultural discourse descends into brittleness and unreasonableness and hyper-reactivity by the hands of a lot misinformation, I believed Amanda’s story felt uncomfortably related.”

Director, author
Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller

The third within the “Knives Out” sequence places religion entrance and middle, with the principle protagonist, performed by Josh O’Connor, a Catholic priest who helps Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) remedy a number of murders. However the movie pits O’Connor’s inclusive, loving God in opposition to the concern, intolerance and paranoia preached by Josh Brolin’s egomaniacal and controlling monsignor. It makes for a dynamic and thought-provoking homicide thriller with simply sufficient cheek to fulfill the “Knives Out” followers. Johnson notes, “As a result of the film was going to be my very own multifaceted trustworthy dialog about religion, it felt vital to middle it on a genuinely good priest. Father Jud (O’Connor) is an advanced human however he additionally embodies the issues I treasure most from my time as a Christian, and issues I would like extra of in my life right now at the same time as a non-believer.”

Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten
CEO

Jon Erwin
COO

Surprise Challenge

Surprise continues to successfully view religion as a broad, multi-generational viewers, not only a area of interest style. “Home of David,” its debut authentic sequence, premiered in February and rapidly grew to become a worldwide hit. Drawing over 44 million viewers worldwide, it hit No. 1 on Prime Video. Constructing on this success, Surprise is increasing its mission through its subscription channel. Its slate options “For King + Nation: No Turning Again,” charting the rise of music superstars Joel and Luke Smallbone; “Redemption,” in regards to the Ohio State soccer workforce’s 2024 championship religion journey; and a vacation particular hosted by Kimberly Schlapman of Little Large City. “‘Younger Washington’ launches July 4, 2026 — on America’s 250th birthday. That is the sort of second Surprise was constructed for — restoring religion in issues price believing in,” says Merryman Hoogstraten. “We’re telling brave tales that crack open hearts and show we belong within the mainstream.”