The series' official Twitter account tweeted Monday afternoon: "Great news! We have just received notice from SAG that we have been approved for a waiver. We'll continue shooting on Monday."
Sources close to the project have subsequently confirmed that the series has indeed resumed with a full cast the day before yesterday and will wrap up in two weeks.
The Utah series barely missed a beat and only had to film for a day or two without a cast. The series features multiple SAG actors, including protagonist Jonathan Roumie who plays Jesus.
A recent Instagram post from creator Dallas Jenkins begged SAG for an exemption: "We have filed all requested paperwork immediately. We meet all qualifications for an exemption. Each day that goes by without your response costs us hundreds of thousands of dollars while your actors are trapped in Utah. We're the good guys. We've treated your actors right."
The Chosen is the first known television series to receive an exemption and the first known film or television production to restart after being shut down by the strike. It is widely expected that the exemptions will largely apply to so-called indie films, since most American series are made with a studio.
The agreements will be awarded to "truly independent producers" as long as they are not affiliated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and agree to be retroactively bound by whatever contract terms are ultimately agreed upon with the AMPTP when the strike is over is.
But SAG's path to granting exemptions is not an easy one. Even in the case of The Chosen, the series recently announced a distribution deal with Lionsgate and has sold past seasons to The CW, Netflix, Amazon, and Peacock. As far as we know, these deals only extend to seasons one through three, not season four (even though the budget for the final season may have benefited from these deals). Among the licensees of the series in the US are Angel Studios, who recently hit box office gold with Sound Of Freedom.
Jenkins, producers and SAG have been contacted for comment and a source close to the project heard the Lionsgate deal was no obstacle to getting the waiver.
The Chosen certainly has indie roots as it is widely regarded as one of the most successful crowdfunded television series of all time. According to a profile in the Wall Street Journal, viewers contributed $40 million to the production two years ago. New episodes will be released for free on the series' website and app and will be made available across platforms later. Texas-based independent production company Out Of Order Studios produces.
The historical drama tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of those who knew him and charts his lessons and "miracles" as he embarks on his ministry to change the world.
As mentioned last week, House of the Dragon is one of a handful of high-end studio series allowed to film abroad this summer due to British union rules.