"This is the real table" - Internet reacts as ‘The Chosen’ director shares realistic ‘The Last Supper’ image amid Paris Olympics uproar 

American filmmaker, producer, and writer Dallas Jenkins of The Chosen fame took to his Instagram on July 30 amid the ongoing Olympics opening ceremony controversy and posted an image inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper.

The image showed his version of the biblical moment of Jesus Christ having his last meal with 12 apostles and predicting that one of them (Judas) would betray him soon, before his crucifixion the following day.

Notably, the picture was recently taken during the shooting of the fifth season of his popular TV show The Chosen which chronicles the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, and offered the first preview of the upcoming season, with Jonathan Roumie in the lead role sitting at the center of the table.

In the wake of his now-viral post, the internet is having diverse reactions. For instance, Instagram user @jotaramalho commented on his post by writing:

“This is the real table… and not the one from the opening of the Olympics games.”

A netizen praises Jenkins' post of 'The Last Supper.' (Image via Instagram/ jotaramalho)

Several others joined in the conversation under his post. Some appreciated his depiction of The Last Supper as against the alleged parody of it at the Olympics inaugural ceremony and pointed out how Dallas’ portrayal was better, reiterating that God must never be “mocked.”

Internet reacts to Dallas Jenkins' post. (Image via Instagram)

Internet reacts to Dallas Jenkins' post. (Image via Instagram)

Many simply praised the “timing” of Jenkins’ post, calling it "normal" and “sublime,” and "realistic" among other things.

Netizens react to 'The Last Supper' scene from 'The Chosen.' (Image via Instagram)

Netizens react to 'The Last Supper' scene from 'The Chosen.' (Image via Instagram)

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Exploring the anticipation surrounding the next season of Dallas Jenkins’ The Chosen

Dallas Jenkins is the writer, director, and creator of The Chosen which has been running since 2017. On June 30, season 4 finale dropped on Amazon Prime revealing Jesus experiencing the Holy Week.

Meanwhile, he has wrapped the filming of the next season. In July, during an interview with Variety, Jenkins noted that the fifth season was going to be “heavy and weighty” and would show Jesus “emotionally weighed down” as he approached the crucifixion.

He added that there would be “great Bible moments” in it and would pick up where season 4 left off. He further added how seasons 6 and 7 will revolve around the crucifixion and resurrection respectively.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the 2024 Paris Olympics The Last Supper scandal, Dallas spoke to CBN News and said that although he would have waited a few more days to release the picture, this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

“The timing felt a little more urgent considering some of the current chatter about Last Supper imagery. Hopefully, we can get a more authentic image in everyone’s minds for this beautiful moment,” The Chosen maker stated.

Jenkins also noted that the scene was filmed “near the end of our shoot” which happened earlier last month, and couldn’t wait for the fans of The Chosen to share the experience when season 5 finally releases in 2025, adding its filming was “special.”

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For those unaware, an Olympics organizers spokesperson told the New York Post that Thomas Jolly, the choreographer of the debated opening ceremony act took his “inspiration” from Vinci’s historical Renaissance artwork to “create the setting.”

In contrast, Jolly told Paris-based news station BFMTV that The Last Supper was not his “inspiration” but rather God Dionysus from the Greek mythology.