DALLAS, Texas — Michael Iskander, star of “Home of David,” mirrored on the parallels between his personal non secular development, together with his latest conversion to Catholicism, and the biblical king’s journey earlier than the launch of the hit collection’ second season.
“David sort of already expedited a religion journey that I used to be on,” the 23-year-old actor, who performs David within the Amazon Prime collection, instructed The Christian Put up on the purple carpet premiere of the movie “Triumph of the Coronary heart.”
“I just lately turned Catholic three weeks in the past, and it has been an infinite blessing in my life.”
Iskander, who was born in Egypt and moved to the US at age 9, introduced his conversion to Catholicism from Coptic Orthodox Christianity on social media final month. He requested followers to wish for him as he continues his “stroll with God.”
“Simply studying about David, for me, is studying what it’s to be human and to make errors and to search out God’s grace,” he mentioned. “All of us are on that journey, so that may be a journey I am persevering with, and I hope David conjures up individuals to look to Christ.”
Iskander is gearing up for the second season, which is able to premiere on Marvel Challenge’s new streaming channel on Amazon’s Prime Video.
The collection, created by “Jesus Revolution” director Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn, was filmed in Greece and Canada and follows the story of the Outdated Testomony shepherd who used a sling and a stone to defeat the enormous Goliath earlier than assuming King Saul’s throne.
Erwin beforehand instructed CP that viewers acquainted with the Bible could already know the important thing occasions — David’s rise from shepherd to king, his defeat of Goliath and his tumultuous relationship with Saul — will study one thing new concerning the scriptures by watching the present.
“Even when your Bible properly, we needed to shock the viewers continually with plot twists and character interactions,” he mentioned. “That was one of many joys of this challenge, telling a narrative everybody is aware of however making it really feel new and recent.”
“There’s a lot extra to David’s story than simply the well-known Goliath battle,” he continued. “We have now the possibility to indicate what occurs in between, and produce these elements of the story to life in a brand new manner.”
In accordance with Iskander, season two is the fruits of one of many Outdated Testomony’s most well-known traces: “Saul killed his 1000’s, David his tens of 1000’s.”
“The primary season was actually about this younger shepherd boy, this teenager, looking for himself and what God needs from him, what’s his future and what’s the will of God. However he was slightly child. Season two is about David coming into his personal and getting into God’s will for him and turning into that warrior.”
“The interior politics behind this younger boy turning into very well-known, and the king turning into very, very jealous,” he added.
Iskander, a gifted musician who starred within the award-winning musical “Kimberly Akimbo” earlier than “Home of David,” additionally revealed there’s a “Home of David” album within the works. The actor, who performs each the piano and guitar, sings in a number of scenes of season one.
“Home of David,” together with “The Chosen,” was one of the widespread exhibits on Prime Video earlier this yr, turning into the No.1 present on the platform as new episodes have been launched. It amassed an viewers of over 40 million.
In accordance with Iskander, the success of the collection displays a bigger cultural second as faith-based movies and biblical epics see better visibility in media.
“It sort of began with ‘The Chosen,’ ‘The Chosen’ sort of paved the trail for lots of different creators. And it confirmed that there’s an viewers. There are individuals who wish to see biblical tales and faith-based tales,” he mirrored.
“‘Home of David’ was the present to return after that. … I imply, we’re very fortunate that there is some actually phenomenal filmmakers out on the planet which are creating artwork for God and galvanizing individuals by way of that artwork.”
Leah M. Klett is a reporter for The Christian Put up. She could be reached at: leah.klett@christianpost.com
