“Goal was to bridge that gap”: House of David Season 2 star Michael Iskander explains how the show goes beyond belief

House of David is a unique offering in the streaming world: it takes the story of one of scripture's most mysterious characters and tells his story to a modern crowd.

The series made it to the Prime Video Top 10 in a day after its release, gaining tens of millions of viewers worldwide. It drew audiences for its amalgam of iconic images and emotionally violent clashes as well as for its underlying story of a shepherd who rose to kingship.

The return of House of David comes on the heels of the debut of Prime Video’s new Wonder Project subscription offering. Season 2 kicks off with a two-part episode, promising more battles, political intrigue, and spiritual struggles. For audiences from all walks of life, the series is not only a continuation of David’s ascent but also an engagement with some of the most enduring inquiries about power, morality, and faith.

House of David Season 2 star Michael Iskander explains how the show goes beyond belief

The Egyptian-born actor shared with the Associated Press his goal of making a biblical character who is often rendered as a larger-than-life figure. He revealed:

“We see these Biblical figures and we think they’re so much larger than life. My personal goal was to bridge that gap and to show people … they make mistakes just like us.”

Iskander noted that the character’s opposite traits are the essence of the narrative, adding:

“Famously Bathsheba: cheating on his eight wives with the wife of one of his soldiers, and then covering that up by killing that soldier. And yet, that guy is known as the man after God’s own heart. How does David get that title? You discover that the whole point of the story of David is about the heart, how a heart after God can lead you to defeating giants."

House of David Season 2 continues to fine-tune stark intimacies with sweeping brutality. It's this tension between the warrior and the poet, the deeply flawed man and the chosen king, that encapsulates both the narrative drama of the series and its appeal.

What is House of David Season 2 about?

It’s not just its creators who have been influenced by the show. Earlier in a statement to The Christian Post, Jon Erwin, founder of the Wonder Project, talked about the burden of telling the story. He described:

“The Bible is a bestseller for a reason. It’s one of the most-read books in the world, and we take that seriously. Our goal is not only to get it right but to deliver something that captures the spirit of the Bible while making the story come alive for a new generation.”

Pastor Greg Laurie echoed that sentiment and spoke about the cultural importance of both House of David and The Chosen.

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“Millions of people through ‘House of David’ and ‘The Chosen’ are hearing Bible stories for the first time. No movie will ever take the place of the Gospel or the Bible, nor should it.

With its mix of visceral battle scenes and moments of lyricism and tenderness, the show testifies to David’s rise from an ignored shepherd boy to the leader of men. With its blend of action, romance, and spiritual contemplation, the narrative offers a multi-dimensional depiction of fate, religion, and strength.

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