A veteran Disney executive, who dedicated decades to guarding the company’s iconic characters, is now using his expertise to support hit shows focused on faith. Rick Dempsey, who was the senior vice president of Creative at Walt Disney Studios for 35 years, has overseen the consistency of voices for characters like Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck since 1988, preserving their essence for future generations.
Throughout his career, Dempsey played a key role in launching Disney Character Voices International, which manages the dubbing and localization of Disney and Pixar movies globally. Viewing his work at Disney as a mission field, he sought opportunities to weave his faith into a predominantly secular environment, including steering the adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ *Chronicles of Narnia* series for Disney.
After leaving Disney in 2023, a serendipitous encounter in Hawaii shifted his focus. He recounts, “I had already planned to announce my retirement. Then, out of nowhere, I met someone at a beach while grabbing shaved ice.” This meeting led him to the *Come and See Foundation*, a nonprofit aiming to reach a billion people through biblical drama in film.
Currently, as Senior Vice President of Creative and Global Localization, Dempsey is overseeing efforts to translate this series into 600 languages. He notes that this project differs greatly from his Disney work, where he primarily focused on directing films like *Frozen* in more than 40 languages.
The upcoming series, *House of David*, is set to tell a unique biblical story. Unlike his previous Disney projects, these faith-based works carry the challenge of ensuring theological accuracy in translations. Dempsey explained that they collaborate closely with theologians to guarantee fidelity and only begin work in a new language once experts are on board.
So far, *The Chosen* has been made available in 70 languages, with more translations underway. Dempsey sees this as a worldwide mission, striving to help people discover the gospel, especially in regions where access to the Bible is limited. He shared, “In places like the Middle East, you can introduce a series that allows people to experience Jesus in ways they’d never thought possible.”
He hopes this series inspires viewers to read the Bible in their native languages and engage with local churches. Dempsey emphasizes, “We’re introducing Jesus to many people, and he resonates within their heart languages. This kind of effort hasn’t been attempted since the 1979 *Jesus* film.” He has heard stories of profound transformations from those who have connected with the series.
Last year, it was highlighted that over 50 dubbed versions were completed, setting a record for *The Chosen* as the most-translated television show in history.
