Prime Video’s eagerly-awaited new series, House of David, has landed with a splash, releasing the first three episodes together to hook viewers. The show, drawn from the revered pages of the Bible and produced by the faith-based Wonder Project, promises an exhilarating odyssey.
The biblical epic House of David is carved out from 1 Samuel 17, featuring the Israelites under King Saul (Ali Suliman) confronting the Philistine forces led by the gigantic Goliath (Martyn Ford). Enter David (Michael Iskander), a young shepherd who topples the towering Goliath using his trusted slingshot after boldly accepting the Philistines’ dare to take on their towering warrior.
A verse from the King James encapsulates the dramatic event: “And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.”
It continues, “So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.”
House of David doesn’t merely narrate the legendary battle; it also tracks the progression of David, from an isolated shepherd to becoming one of ‘s most illustrious monarchs after being divinely selected, reports the .
House of David takes its cue from the pages of the Bible (Image: PRIME VIDEO)
[EXPLAINER] [INTERVIEW]
Jon Erwin, the creator of House of David, recalled the moment he stood in front of King David’s Tomb in Jerusalem at age 16, a video camera in hand, as the spark that ignited his “deep, unshakeable passion for filmmaking, for storytelling, and for the technology that brings those stories to life”. Not just the dramatic landscapes, but also the significance of the narrative left a strong impression on him.
“It was the weight of the story beneath that ancient tomb-the story of a young shepherd boy, chosen against all odds, destined to rise and become one of the greatest kings in history,” he remarked.
House of David promises audiences an epic story (Image: PRIME VIDEO)
House of David is set to be a faithful adaptation of the biblical tale, embracing the era’s brutality while delivering a gritty drama replete with complex characters. The acclaimed director, writer, producer, and entrepreneur dissected the David versus Goliath story not merely as the archetypal underdog battle but as an odyssey of self-realisation.
“But what most people don’t know is the full depth of David’s journey. His rise to greatness didn’t happen overnight. His story is about more than just a young boy facing down a giant; it’s about the journey of becoming who you were always meant to be,” Erwin elucidated.
The creative expressed that the narrative transcended biblical tales, describing it as the quintessential “hero’s journey”, which has inspired legendary characters such as Luke Skywalker, Frodo Baggins, and Harry Potter.
House of David airs weekly on Fridays on Prime Video