*The biblical tale of David and Goliath is one of history’s most legendary underdog stories—but the upcoming series “House of David” is set to bring new depth and complexity to these characters like never before.
We caught up with Michael Iskander, who portrays the young shepherd-turned-warrior David, and Martyn Ford, the towering force behind Goliath, to discuss how the series reimagines their epic battle and the journey that led them there. The series from Amazon MGM Studios is based on an idea by Jon Erwin and directed by Jon Erwin, Jon Gunn, Alexandra La Roche, and Michael Nankin, with executive producers Jon Erwin, Jon Gunn, Jonathan Lloyd Walker, Justin Rosenblatt, Chad Oakes, and Mike Frislev.
Here’s the synopsis:
House of David tells the story of the ascent of the biblical figure, David, who eventually becomes the most renowned and celebrated king of Israel. The series follows the once-mighty King Saul as he falls victim to his own pride. At the direction of God, the prophet Samuel anoints an unlikely, outcast teenager as the new king. As Saul loses his power over his kingdom, David finds himself on a journey to discover and fulfill his destiny, navigating love, loss, and violence in the court of the very man he’s destined to replace. As one leader falls, another must rise.
With a story that explores not just triumph and destiny, but the intricate layers of power, loss, and redemption, “House of David” takes viewers beyond the battlefield. How does this new take on David’s rise and Saul’s downfall reshape our understanding of these iconic figures? In our exclusive interview, Michael and Martyn shared insights on stepping into the sandals of these biblical legends.
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“I think the nature of the way we’re telling the story, it’s never been done before that a series has been made about the life of King David,” said Iskander, adding, “… all the different characters, all the relationships, what it took to get to David and Goliath. There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes. I think just by nature of the way we’re telling it, it’s going to provide a lot of context and some entertaining television,” he explained.
Ford added, “I think the opportunity to show a backstory to Goliath was essential. It was the big selling point to me when I first spoke to the three Johns about the opportunity and the potential to play Goliath. They explained the backstory and explained the turning point and the reasoning behind Goliath’s demand for the battle. It was intriguing. Hopefully, the audience will see that … they’ll understand Goliath and take that into account for his actions and ultimately why what happened did. I think that’s what sets this story up and will bring interest to the audience.”
When it comes to the epic battle between David and Goliath, Ford said “There’s not much standing and delivering blows or kicks in what you’d probably presume a battle to be. It was massively emotional,” he shared.
“It was more a battle of minds than a battle of physicality,” he added. “I think that’s what made this so special. It was hitting each other without physically hitting each other.”
Iskander worked with an “ancient weapons expert” who “helped me learn about the sling,” he said.
“It took a lot of preparation in terms of learning how the sling works as an ancient weapon of war, but also a tool that was used by shepherds back in the day. I relied on my history of shotput and discus in high school to inform the sling,” Iskander said.
“House of David” will premiere on Prime Video on February 27, launching with three episodes, followed by one new episode released weekly.
Watch our full conversation with Michael and Martyn via the clip below.
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