Jonathan Roumie Steps into Family Comedy with ‘Solo Mio,’ Aiming to Spread ‘Light’ in Film
Michael Foust
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By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
The actor best known for his role as Jesus in the hit series The Chosen stars in a new movie this weekend – one he says elevates the rom-com genre in ways few films ever have.
Jonathan Roumie stars in the Angel Studios film Solo Mio (PG), a romantic comedy which follows an American man who is left at the altar in Rome – and then decides to go ahead with his planned honeymoon across Italy alone. The film stars Kevin James in the lead role, with Roumie playing a new friend, Neil, that James’ character meets along the way.
In fact, casual fans may not even recognize Jonathan Roumie in the new film, as he appears clean-shaven without his signature beard. It launches Feb. 6.
Roumie says Solo Mio “elevates the genre in a way you don’t expect.”
“It hits people in a way that goes below the surface,” he told Crosswalk Headlines. “It hits on a deeper level. And there's also a pretty hardcore plot twist to it that you normally don't see in a rom-com.”
Most important for parents, the plot offers emotional depth while remaining family-friendly.
“There's nothing unwholesome about it,” he said. “My nieces saw it. They thought it was hysterical. … Nobody makes films like this right now.”
It’s far from Jonathan Roumie’s first project outside The Chosen. He appeared in the 2023 film Jesus Revolution and has served as an executive producer on several faith-centered projects, including Heart of a Servant: The Father Flanagan Story and The 21.
Roumie’s best-known project, The Chosen, has been credited by many with sparking a renaissance in faith- and family-friendly entertainment and has drawn praise from critics across the spectrum for its multi-season character development.
Roumie said he wants to continue making projects that raise the bar while staying rooted in faith and redemption.
“I love telling stories that honor God and glorify God and bring light into the culture,” he told Crosswalk Headlines. “And my aim is – my mission as a storyteller, as an actor, even as a producer on some of the forthcoming projects – is to also do that, is to continue to bring light into the culture.”
Roumie said he is particularly drawn to stories about imperfect characters who ultimately find redemption – characters very different from his role as Jesus.
“They can be flawed, and they can be broken, but what is the trajectory of their arcs, and how do they end up coming into the light? Because those are stories that really speak to me,” he said. “I think that kind of starting in the gutters and then being redeemed and finding redemption, or finding wholeness and healing – those are the stories that right now really, really speak to me and compel me to want to tell them and to share them with audiences.”
It’s always enjoyable, he said, to “flex your other muscles” with other genres.
“In fact, before I ever did The Chosen, a lot of the guest stars and smaller roles on TV I did were comedic roles – and so [Solo Mio] was a wonderful departure for me to get to do something different and not feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world in this character,” Roumie said. “... Neil is flawed, but he has a beautiful heart.”
Solo Mio is rated PG for some suggestive material, brief language (h-ll 3, a– 1), violence, and smoking.
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Photo Credit: ©Angel
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
