By Gavin Boyle
Studio head Jon Erwin explained what he was looking for in the person cast as David in HOUSE OF DAVID and why it felt like a miracle when he found someone who checked all the boxes.
“We were barreling down the tracks of the greenlit show and did not have a David,” Erwin said. “And there’s a lot of parts to the character. You have to have someone with depth of soul, you have to have somebody that has musical ability. He has to be athletic. And then, you want somebody that has a level of conviction — in a perfect world, has a deep faith of their own. That’s like hitting a bullseye, within a bullseye, within a bullseye.”
“There was actually a moment [during a screen test] where I froze the frame and I said, ‘That’s conviction and you can’t fake it,’” Ewing added, explaining when he knew Michael Iskander was his actor. “That cannot be manufactured, in my opinion, no matter how good the actor is.”
Iskander has certainly been a good fit for the role as HOUSE OF DAVID has gone on to become extremely popular, dominating Prime Video’s charts throughout its release. It was even renewed for a second season, allowing the story to continue now that Goliath has been slain.
“We are humbled by the extraordinary reaction this show has earned from the faith audience worldwide,” Erwin and Jon Gunn said. “Thanks to them and our partners at Prime Video and Amazon MGMStudios, Wonder Project will bring more of the Bible and this epic saga to a global audience. Congratulations to our incredible cast and crew.”
Meanwhile, Iskander has used his newfound fame and platform to glorify the Lord and proclaim the Gospel. He understands that this opportunity has been given to him by God alone, and this shines through in his life.
Related: Prime Video’s HOUSE OF DAVID Is the No. 1 Show in America
“With an opportunity like this, and to tell this type of story, it’s so special, and everyone wants it,” he told CBN. “But it’s scary, because there’s so much pressure. You know, being the one person to do this like I, I like to think that there’s plenty of people who could have done it. I’m just the lucky one.”
“For me, one of the messages I got from filming the show was a verse from the Bible: ‘Be strong and of good courage. Do not fear,’” Iskander later added. “This is the heart of the story. We all have giants in our lives, and seeing someone take down theirs inspires us to take down our own.”
As the show has helped invigorate the faith of millions of viewers, it is amazing the hear how God was active in the production from the start and continues to remain the central focus of all involved.
Read Next: What’s it Like Playing Biblical Heroes? Jonathan Roumie and Michael Iskander Say…
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