House of David
Genre	Historical drama
Created by	Jon Erwin
Directed by	Jon Erwin Jon Gunn Alexandra La Roche Michael Nankin
Starring	Michael Iskander Ali Suliman Stephen Lang Ayelet Zurer Indy Lewis Ethan Kai Martyn Ford
Music by	Kevin Kiner Sean Kiner Deana Kiner
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	16
Production
Executive producers	Jon Erwin Jonathan Lloyd Walker Jon Gunn Trey Callaway Ryan Swanson Justin Rosenblatt Chad Oakes Mike Frislev
Running time	51–61 minutes
Production companies	The WONDER Project Nomadic Pictures Argonauts Kingdom Story Company Amazon MGM Studios Lionsgate Television
Original release
Network	Amazon Prime Video
Release	February 27 (2025-02-27) – April 5, 2025 (2025-04-05)
Network	Wonder Project
Release	October 5, 2025 (2025-10-05) – present

House of David is an AmericanBiblicalhistorical drama television series.^[1][2][3] Created, co-directed, and co-written by filmmakerJon Erwin forAmazon Prime Video, it is a multi-season series about the life ofDavid. Primarily set in the middle east in 1000 BC, the series depicts the rise of David, tracing his journey from his paternal servitude as a shepherd to his battle againstGoliath and eventual kingship with theHouse of David succeeding theHouse of Saul.Michael Iskander stars as David alongsideAli Suliman,Stephen Lang,Ayelet Zurer,Indy Lewis, Ethan Kai, andMartyn Ford.

The series was produced byThe Wonder Project, a studio led by Erwin and Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten, in collaboration withAmazon MGM Studios, and is internationally distributed byLionsgate. The creators have emphasized that the show is made for a broad audience, not just religious people.^[4]

The series premiered on February 27, 2025, with the first three episodes made available on Amazon Prime Video, followed by weekly releases for the remaining episodes. The series received positive feedback for its high production quality and its respectful portrayal ofJewish traditions and thebiblical story. Within its first 17 days, the show attracted 22 million viewers, and Amazon Prime announced the renewal for a second season.^[5] Season 2 was released beginning October 5, 2025 exclusively to subscribers to the Wonder Project add-on, with general availability to all Prime subscribers at a later date.^[6]

Set in1000 BC in Israel, the first season chroniclesDavid as a youngshepherd anointed by theprophet Samuel to be the next king followingSaul's mental deterioration. On his path to the throne, David encounters both challenges and opportunities from his faith and relationships, culminating with his fight against thePhilistine giantGoliath.^[7]

• Michael Iskander asDavid: A shepherd inBethlehem from theTribe of Judah who is anointed to be the next king ofIsrael. A poet and a musician playing thelyre, he is the youngest son ofJesse andNitzevet, the younger brother of Eliab, Abinadab, Nethaneel, Raddai, and Ozem, the older brother of Avva, and a relative of Joab. Raphael Korniets portrays David as a child.
  • Raphael Korniets portrays a young David
• Ali Suliman asSaul: The first king of Israel from theTribe of Benjamin, the husband of Ahinoam, the father of Jonathan, Eshbaal, Mirab, and Michal, and the cousin of Abner. He is a former donkey herder and the son ofKish.
• Indy Lewis asMychal: A princess of Israel, the younger daughter of Saul and Ahinoam, the sister of Jonathan, Eshbaal, and Mirab, and David's love interest.
• Ethan Kai asJonathan: A prince of Israel, the oldest son of Saul and Ahinoam, and the older brother of Eshbaal, Mirab, and Michal.
• Oded Fehr asAbner: The commander-in-chief of his cousin Saul's army.
• Yali Topol Margalith asMirab: A princess of Israel, the older daughter of Saul and Ahinoam, and the sister of Jonathan, Eshbaal, and Michal.
• Davood Ghadami asEliab: A high-ranking soldier in Saul's army, the oldest son of Jesse and Nitzevet, the older brother of David, Abinadab, Nethaneel, Raddai, Ozem, and Avva, and a relative of Joab.
• Ayelet Zurer asAhinoam: The first queen of Israel, the wife of Saul, and the mother of Jonathan, Eshbaal, Mirab, and Michal.
• Aury Alby asJoab: The second-in-command officer of Saul's army after Abner and a relative of Jesse and his children.

• Inbar Saban as Kazia: A servant girl in King Saul's household
• Stewart Scudamore asAdriel: The chief elder from theTribe of Judah and an adviser of Saul. He is the son of Barzillai.
• Louis Ferreira asJesse: A former elder in Bethlehem, the father of David, Eliab, Abinadab, Nethaneel, Raddai, and Ozem, the husband of Nitzevet, and a relative of Joab. He is the son ofObed and the grandson ofBoaz.
• Alexander Uloom asAchish: ThePhilistine king ofGath, one of the five kings ofPhilistia, and an enemy of Israel.
• Stephen Lang asSamuel: A prophet and a seer of theLordGod, who is the last of the judges leading Israel before anointing Saul and David as kings. He is husband of Hila and the son ofElkanah andHannah.
• Naby Dakhli asAbinadab: A high-ranking soldier in Saul's army, the second son of Jesse and Nitzevit, a brother of David, Eliab, Nethaneel, Raddai, Ozem, and Avva, and a relative of Joab.
• Reis Daniel as Oaz: The funny axe warrior and David’s new friend
• Rada Rae as Avva: The daughter of Jesse and Nitzevet and the younger sister of David, Eliab, Abinadab, Nethaneel, Raddai, and Ozem.
• Aziz Dyab asNethaneel: The fourth son of Jesse and Nitzevet, a brother of David, Eliab, Abinadab, Raddai, Ozem, and Avva, and a relative of Joab.
• Stefanos Vuksanovic asOzem: The sixth son of Jesse and Nitzevet, a brother of David, Eliab, Abinadab, Nethaneel, Raddai, and Avva, and a relative of Joab.
• Konstantinos Krommidas asRaddai: The fifth son of Jesse and Nitzevet, a brother of David, Eliab, Abinadab, Nethaneel, Ozem, and Avva, and a relative of Joab.
• Paolo Luka-Noé as Jordan: The youngest son of Adriel and a love interest of Mirab's.
• Siir Tilif asNitzevet: The wife of Jesse and the mother of David, as well as his siblings Eliab, Nethaneel, Abinadab, Raddai, Ozem, and Avva.
• Martyn Ford asGoliath: A Philistine giant from Gath descended fromAnakim, the last of theNephilim, an enemy of Israel, and the brother of Lahmi, Ishbi, and Benob.
• Jeremy Xido asKing Agag: The king ofAmalek and an enemy of Israel.
• Sam Otto asEshbaal: A prince of Israel, the younger son of Saul and Ahinoam, and the brother of Jonathan, Mirab, and Michal.
• Eden Saban as Besai: ABaal priestess and an advisor toAhinoam, the queen of Israel and Saul's wife.
• Ashraf Barhom asDoeg: TheEdomite chief servant of Saul's herdsmen.
• Nimo Hochenberg as Silas: Samuel's loyal servant.
• Bahia Haifi as Hila: The wife of the prophet Samuel.
• Teym Joseph as Reuben: A young boy who witnesses thePhilistine attack onBaal Hazor.
• Alex Anastaopoulos as Azor
• Haydar Koyel asAshkelon: The Philistine king of Ashkelon, one of the five kings of Philistia, and an enemy of Israel.
• Derek Horsham asYurza: The Philistine king ofGaza, one of the five kings of Philistia, and an enemy of Israel.
• Raresh DiMofte asLahmi: A Philistine giant from Gath descended from Anakim, the last of the Nephilim and the brother of Goliath, Ishbi, and Benob.
• Sian Webber as Orpah: The mother of the giants Goliath, Lahmi, Ishbi, and Benob.
• Luzian Gupta as Josiah: A young servant of Saul's.
• Dimitris Ziakas asAhimelech: TheLevitehigh priest of Israel inNob.
• Andreas Alevizos asIshbi: A Philistine giant descended from Anakim, the last of the Nephilim and the brother of Goliath, Lahmi, and Benob.
• Christos Villanakis asBenob: A Philistine giant descended from Anakim, the last of the Nephilim and the brother of Goliath, Lahmi, and Ishbi.

Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn both known for their work in faith-based cinema

The development ofHouse of David originated from creatorJon Erwin's longstanding interest in thebiblical story ofKing David. Erwin's fascination with the narrative began in his youth and led him to start working on the script as a teenager after visitingKing David's tomb inJerusalem. This early inspiration eventually contributed to the creation of the television series years later. The series was produced byThe Wonder Project, a studio founded by Erwin and Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten, in collaboration withAmazon MGM Studios.^[10] Amazon's interest in a high-budget biblical series was piqued whenOn a Wing and a Prayer proved unexpectedly popular on the platform.^[11]

Amazon's initial order was only for one season. Erwin said before its release that the script he wrote encompasses three seasons, hoping to finish it.^[12]

The casting process forHouse of David was extensive, spanning four months to find the ideal actor for the titular role. The filmmakers said the actors did not need to be personally religious, but needed to be excited about the story.^[11]

After a four month casting search, newcomerMichael Iskander was ultimately selected to portrayDavid,^[13][14] marking his first major acting credit. Iskander secured the role in auditions partly because he had thrown theshot put and thediscus in high school.^[15] Joining him is Ali Suliman as King Saul, the first king of Israel whose complex relationship with David forms a central pillar of the story.Ayelet Zurer portrays QueenAhinoam, Saul's wife, adding depth to the royal family dynamics.^[16] Veteran actorStephen Lang takes on the role ofSamuel, the prophet who anoints David. Additionally, Britishbodybuilder and actorMartyn Ford was cast as the formidableGoliath.^[17] Ford is 6'8" and 320 pounds, and in the series is portrayed as 9'9" throughforced perspective and digital enhancements.^[15]

The supporting cast includesLouis Ferreira asJesse, David's father; Ethan Kai asJonathan, Saul's son and David's close friend;Indy Lewis asMichal, Saul's daughter;Oded Fehr asAbner, the commander of Saul's army;Yali Topol Margalith asMirab, Saul's eldest daughter; Nimo Hochenberg as Silas, Samuel's loyal servant; Aury Alby asJoab, one of David's warriors;Ashraf Barhom asDoeg the Edomite;Sam Otto asEshbaal, another of Saul's sons;Davood Ghadami as Eliab, David's eldest brother; Alexander Uloom asAchish, a Philistine king; Raresh DiMofte asLahmi; and Siir Tilif asNitzevet, David's mother.^[18]

The writing ofHouse of David seeks to present a nuanced depiction of King David by combining scriptural narratives with creative storytelling. Co-created and directed by Jon Erwin andJon Gunn, both known for their work infaith-based cinema, the series aims to make the biblical story more relatable to contemporary audiences. Drawing primarily from the early chapters of1 Samuel, the narrative follows David's transformation from ashepherd to a central figure in Israel's history. The writers expand upon the biblical text to explore his relationships with key figures such as King Saul and the prophet Samuel, adding complexity to these interactions.^[19]

The series integrates direct biblical references with original dialogue, developing subplots that provide depth tosecondary characters, including Saul, Michal, and Jonathan. It also delves into David's internal struggles with faith, morality, and leadership, extending beyond his well-documented battles and victories.^[17]

The series is intended to be faithful to the Hebrew Bible but not necessarily a strict retelling of the biblical account of David. "I do remind people this is not Scripture. This is not the source material. This is a love letter to the source material," Erwin says.^[20] Historians, biblical and rabbinical scholars, and pastors were consulted in writing the script.^[11]

One of the challenges in writing the series was crafting dialogue that felt authentic to the historical setting while remaining accessible to modern audiences. To achieve this balance, the writers adopted a formal yet naturalistic style, avoiding overly archaic language.^[21]

Erwin and Gunn say that the show is not only intended for religious people but for a broad audience, with inspiration taken fromThe Lord of the Rings,Star Wars, andHarry Potter.^[2]

Principal photography forHouse of David commenced in 2024, with the production team selectingGreece as the primary filming location. The country's ancient architecture and diverse landscapes provided an authentic backdrop for thebiblical narrative. Specific locations included the region ofFyli, which effectively represented the historical setting of the series. Additionally, parts of the series were filmed inCalgary,Alberta,Canada, utilizing its vast terrains to depict various aspects of the story.^[22]

The production team initially scouted locations inMorocco,Jordan,Italy, andIsrael before finalizing Greece and Canada for their suitable landscapes and infrastructure. Filming in these locations not only provided visual authenticity but also contributed to the high production values noted in the series.^[23] Over 700 people were involved in the production.^[12]

Generative artificial intelligence was used in combination with traditional special effects to create an origin sequence for Goliath. Erwin stated that AI made the scene grander and more detailed than their time and budget would allow using only regular tools.^[24]

Production for season 2 began inGreece overEaster weekend in 2025.^[25]

The music for the television seriesHouse of David was composed byKevin Kiner along with his children,Sean and Deana. The trio has previously worked on series such asStar Wars: The Clone Wars andNarcos: Mexico.^[26]

ForHouse of David, their composition incorporates a blend of traditionalMiddle Eastern instrumentation and contemporaryorchestral elements, aiming to align with the historical setting while appealing to modern audiences. The series' official soundtrack,House of David: Season One, was released digitally on February 27, 2025, to coincide with the show's premiere.^[26]

Additionally, a compilation album titledMusic Inspired by thePrime Video Original Series "House of David" features songs from various artists that complement the themes of the series. The album was made available for pre-save on February 21, 2025.^[27]

The series premiered on February 27, 2025, with the first three episodes made available for streaming.^[28][29] New episodes were released weekly on ThursdaysPrime Video, with the season finale airing on April 3, 2025.^[30] In its first week, the series reached #2 on Prime's most watched list.^[31] It drew 22 million viewers in the first 17 days, leading Amazon Prime to quickly renew it for a second season.^[5]

Season 2 debuted on October 5, 2025, initially as an exclusive to subscribers to the Wonder Project add-on to Amazon Prime Video. It will be released to all Amazon Prime subscribers at a later date.^[32]

The series has received a range of reviews from critics. On review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes, 71% of 7 critics gave the series a positive review, with an average rating of 7/10.^[33]

The Gospel Coalition praisedHouse of David for maintaining a balance between narrative engagement and biblical accuracy. The review highlights how the multi-season format allows for more in-depth character development compared to feature films.^[34]

Similarly, Leah MarieAnn Klett ofThe Christian Post described the series as "visually stunning and spiritually rich", commending its high production values and performances. She notes that the show effectively blends biblical accuracy with compelling drama, making the story accessible to contemporary audiences.^[35]

Alison Herman ofVariety critiquedHouse of David for its lack of depth, calling it "wooden and cheap-looking" despiteAmazon's investment in biblical epics. Acknowledging its positioning as a prequel toThe Chosen, the review cites inconsistent accents, unconvincing special effects, and a lack of emotional engagement to ultimately consider the show uninspired, failing to develop compelling characters or match the intrigue of historical dramas likeShōgun.^[36]

Martin Carr ofComic Book Resources describedHouse of David as a "sweeping biblical epic" that embraces a grand storytelling approach. He highlighted the series' exploration of political power struggles and divine intervention, crafting a narrative of triumph against overwhelming odds that resonates with contemporary audiences.^[37]

Joel Keller ofDecider acknowledged its attempt to presentbiblical figures with greater depth but argues that it falls short, stating that the characters "appear more like mythical figures rather than relatable humans" and describing the tone as "dull and uninspiring".^[38]

Batya Ungar-Sargon ofThe Free Press called the series "phenomenal" and praised its depiction of Jewish traditions: "The show's most important contribution is in exposing liberal American Jews to the way so many of our Christian neighbors see us—not as an oppressed victim caste who killed Christ and should be loathed for it, but rather as an ancient, noble tribe of warrior poets and kings favored by the blessing of the God they serve."^[39]

InHouse of David, the character ofDavid is portrayed as a musically talented yet marginalized figure within his family, burdened by guilt and fear, and initially hesitant to accept his divine calling. This portrayal reflects certain aspects of thebiblical narrative—David is described as a skilled musician (1 Samuel 16:18–23;Psalms 23) and was initially overlooked by his fatherJesse duringSamuel's search for a new king (1 Samuel 16:11). However, the series emphasizes a rebellious and doubtful disposition that contrasts with the biblical account, which presents David as confident and faithful from a young age. In theBible, David expresses trust in God, notably during his confrontation withGoliath,^[40] declaring that "The Lord... will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (1 Samuel 17:37), a level of conviction not reflected in the series.^[41]

The series introduces a fictional narrative in which David's mother is depicted as a Gentile, and David is portrayed as being viewed as illegitimate by his family and blamed for her death (House of David, Episode 1). This portrayal does not appear in the biblical account, which neither identifies David's mother as a Gentile nor implies his illegitimacy. The depiction may draw loosely from certain Jewish traditions or interpretations of passages such as Psalm 69:8–12, where David describes being alienated from his brothers. The series references the biblical figures Ruth and Rahab—David's great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, respectively—as Gentiles (Ruth 1:16; Joshua 2:1–21), but the connection is speculative and not explicitly made in the biblical text. These creative additions provide a dramatic backstory that differs from the scriptural narrative, which focuses on David's humble origins and his selection by God (1 Samuel 16:7).^[42]

The depiction of King Saul, portrayed by Ali Suliman, follows the biblical narrative in several key aspects. His disobedience regarding the command to destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:3–9) and subsequent rejection as king (1 Samuel 15:26) are presented in accordance with the scriptural account inHouse of David (Episode 1). The series also reflects the biblical portrayal of Saul's decline into paranoia and instability, described in 1 Samuel 16:14, with Suliman's performance emphasizing this transformation. However, the series incorporates dramatized elements not found in the Bible, such as Saul attacking his wife, Ahinoam, and fighting with his son Jonathan, which serve to heighten the character's instability for narrative purposes.^[43]

InHouse of David, Queen Ahinoam is portrayed as a politically ambitious and scheming figure, a characterization that differs significantly from her limited mention in the Bible (1 Samuel 14:50). The series also diverges from the biblical narrative by depicting Saul's son Eshbaal (Ishbaal) as attempting to claim the throne during Saul's lifetime, whereas in the Bible, Eshbaal's short reign takes place only after Saul's death (2 Samuel 2:8–10). In contrast, the portrayal of Jonathan aligns closely with the biblical account, presenting him as a devoted son and loyal friend to David (1 Samuel 18:1–4). The series further alters the timeline of events by showing Saul's daughter Michal developing a romantic relationship with David before his rise to fame, whereas the Bible states their relationship begins following David's defeat of Goliath (1 Samuel 18:20–27).^[44][41]

The portrayal ofGoliath and thePhilistines inHouse of David blends elements of historical context with creative interpretation. In the Bible, Goliath is described as a giant from Gath, equipped with armor and weapons that suggestMycenaean Greek influence (1 Samuel 17:4–7), consistent with scholarly theories that associate the Philistines with the "Sea Peoples" originating from regions such as Crete or Cyprus (Deuteronomy 2:23; Amos 9:7).^[45][46] The series reflects this historical background by accurately portraying Goliath's bronze greaves and spear. However, it introduces fictional elements, including a backstory in which Goliath is the son of a woman named Orpah—a character linked to Ruth's sister-in-law in rabbinic tradition—and part of a family of giants living in a cave. These additions draw from both biblical and non-biblical sources such as 1 Chronicles 20:5 and various mythological interpretations. The dramatized battle scene in which Goliath hurls a javelin at David is also a creative addition; the biblical account only describes David defeating Goliath with a single stone from his sling (1 Samuel 17:49–50).^[3][42]

• House of David atIMDb
• House of David atRotten Tomatoes

• 2025 American television series debuts
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• Portrayals of David on television
• Amazon Prime Video original programming
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