Unchosen is a six-part series set within a secretive Christian cult in the English countryside, according to multiple reports. The series follows Rosie, a devout young wife and mother living with her husband Adam in the cult. Rosie's husband Adam is played by Asa Butterfield, and the escaped convict Sam is played by Fra Fee. The show features a star-studded cast including Christopher Eccleston, Siobhan Finneran, Asa Butterfield, and Fra Fee, as reported by major media outlets. Siobhan Finneran plays Mrs Phillips, spouse of Christopher Eccleston's cult leader Mr Phillips, according to major media.
Molly Windsor, who plays Rosie, began acting at age 11 and won a BAFTA at age 20, according to major media. She was mentored by Oscar-nominated actor and director Samantha Morton, who chose Windsor for a film she was directing based on her own experiences, as reported by major media. Windsor's personal background includes growing up in a village outside Derby with her mother and brother Josh, while her father is not in the picture, according to major media. Her brother Josh is a police officer, age 33, and Windsor is 5ft 1in tall, as reported by major media.
Being a young woman, everyone assumes you’re naive or bright-eyed. But I’ve actually been in this industry a long time.
Unchosen was created by Julie Gearey and was initially titled Out of the Dust, according to major media. The series was inspired by real-world accounts of former cult members who escaped, as reported by major media. The show's success highlights the broader issue of cults in Britain, described by experts as a 'hidden epidemic' with an estimated 2,000 groups, according to major media.
According to Daily Mail - Home, Molly Windsor described being a young woman in the industry, noting that people assume she is naive but she has been acting for a long time. She also mentioned that despite the dark content, the cast had a real laugh during filming. Windsor reflected on her family, saying she, her mother, and her grandmother were a team of three, and she thought of them during a scene where women cook together after a storm, which felt familiar.
You probably can’t tell watching it, because the content is very dark, but we had a real laugh.
The exact release date of Unchosen is unclear, with conflicting reports. The Daily Mail suggests the series is already available, while the Daily Express gives a future date of Tuesday, 21st April. Similarly, the Daily Mirror claims the series has taken the top spot on Netflix's streaming chart, but other sources do not confirm this, possibly due to timing differences. Critical reception beyond viewer comments on Reddit remains unclear, and the number of episodes released so far is not specified.
Viewer reactions on Reddit have been mixed. One user praised Molly Windsor, saying she needs to be in more stuff. Another user commented that the trailer gave them vibes of Midsommar, The Village, and Yellowjackets, and they were pleased to see Asa Butterfield and Christopher Eccleston. However, some viewers found the series predictable. One user said they predicted every plot twist by episode 4 and got bored. Another user described the show as superficial and cliché, while another thought the writing was mid but the actors were good. A more positive viewer said they were drawn in by the characters and great casting, finding the twists emotionally devastating despite being predictable. Another user called the series brilliant, praising the perfect fit of actors and the tension between Rosie and Sam.
Me, my mum and my nan were a team of three. I thought about them a lot when we were making Unchosen. There’s a scene after a storm where all the women step in and cook dinner together – there’s a special sense of community that felt familiar to me.
Netflix's synopsis describes the plot: the fateful arrival of escaped prisoner Sam into Rosie's life reveals the reality and restraints of her world, questioning whether the hidden religious community has her best interests at heart. As cracks appear in her marriage, Sam presents as her saviour, but with his dark criminal past, the greatest danger may lie with the cult or with Sam.