In a recent development, the highly popular crowdfunded series "The Chosen" has taken the decision to terminate its contract with distribution company Angel Studios, citing breach of contract. Dallas Jenkins, the creator of the series, made the announcement in a video message, expressing gratitude for Angel Studios' support in launching the show but highlighting the unexpected challenges faced in ensuring its survival.

One of the issues raised by Jenkins was the pay-it-forward model introduced by Angel Studios, where viewers had the option to contribute for themselves and others to make the show available for free globally. Jenkins claimed that only around 40% of the pay-it-forward contributions were actually received by "The Chosen," with the rest going towards marketing and Angel Studios.

Jenkins also revealed that the financing of future seasons of "The Chosen" was solely the responsibility of his side, with every dollar for production coming from their own pockets. As a result, the creators had to form a company called The Chosen LLC to handle all the financial aspects, including reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Regarding the pay-it-forward contributions, Angel Studios disputed Jenkins' claim and stated that there was a 50/50 split after expenses. Jenkins mentioned that the company had grown, employing over five dozen full-time employees, and this was supported by gift sales, such as books, DVDs, and apparel.

In 2022, "The Chosen" entered into a new agreement with Angel Studios, allowing them to shift their relationship to Come and See, a nonprofit organization dedicated to financing the production and marketing of the show. Jenkins emphasized that 100% of the donations received by Come and See would be allocated to the production, marketing, and international translations of "The Chosen."

However, shortly after this agreement, Jenkins claimed that Angel Studios breached their contract on multiple occasions, leading to the termination of their relationship. An arbitrator was involved in resolving the matter, ruling in favor of "The Chosen" by affirming that the contract had been breached in multiple and significant ways.

Angel Studios CEO Neil Harmon expressed disappointment at the termination and hoped for a future restoration of the agreement. He credited the dedicated efforts of his team over the past eight years for the success of "The Chosen."

As a result of the termination, viewers will now have the option to watch "The Chosen" through a social media livestream, "The Chosen" app, or on DVD, excluding the Angel Studios app. Season 4 of the series will be available on "The Chosen" app, with the first episode premiering on Sunday and the second episode on Thursday. Subsequent episodes will be released on a weekly basis over the next few weeks.

With the contract terminated, the future of "The Chosen" will rely on continued support from viewers and additional partnerships and licensing agreements to sustain the show's growth and overhead expenses.