‘House Of David’ S2: Jon Gunn On The Bible Drama’s Big Risks

Faith-based studio Wonder Project’s lavish historical drama House of David, which just launched its second season, has Evangelical Christians telling one of the foundational stories of the Jewish Scriptures, about how a shepherd boy became the first king of Israel.

A Two-Season Pickup for House of David

You might think the writers and producers would want a bit of Season 1 feedback from both Christian and Jewish viewers before tackling Season 2, but alas, it was not to be. Prime Video agreed to two seasons up front, so Season 2 began shooting before Season 1 had finished streaming.

So, if viewers objected to House of David straying from Scripture to conjecture about David’s parentage or to show Goliath as an 11-foot-tall Nephilim (discussed more here), oh, well.

Here’s what’s up in Season 2:

Israel nears collapse as Saul’s reign falters. David rises from shepherd to warrior, caught between loyalty and destiny, while the Age of Iron transforms warfare. As families fracture, forbidden loves spark, and alliances shift, faith and power collide in a struggle that will decide Israel’s future.

Don’t miss a thing! Subscribe to my content at Authory.com/KateOHare

Taking a Big Risk With a Big Hit

But, it turns out the fans loved House of David, and it was a hit on Prime Video — so now, it’s somewhere else, kinda.

Wonder Project is using Season 2 as the main attraction to launch its own streaming service, available at an extra charge to people already paying for Prime Video (where the series will eventually land, in about six months).

This past week, I discussed this and more with Jon Gunn, the show’s co-creator/writer/director and showrunner.

He’s partnered in Wonder Project with Jon Erwin (I talked to him last season) of the filmmaking Erwin brothers, founders of the faith-based Kingdom Story Company.

Here’s Gunn:

Beyond ‘House of David’: Wonder Project Streamer Details

The new Wonder Project streamer just announced its opening lineup.

Wonder Project is available as a standalone app and also as a subscription through Prime Video. You do not have to be a Prime Video subscriber in order to get a Wonder Project subscription.

Wonder Project’s subscription will feature “Edited Versions of Movie Favorites,” which includes:

Licensed TV edit versions from the filmmakers, expanding choices for audiences to have a premium, co-viewing experience, in addition to the original versions.

This offering is unique as other streamers who offer MA or R-rated versions of the original films don’t also offer the TV edited version that are typically PG-13.

The complete slate of new originals on Wonder Project includes:

Redemption (premiering October)

FOR KING + COUNTRY: No Turning Back (premiering November)

A Winter’s Song (premiering November)

A Christmas special hosted by Kimberly Schlapman (title TBA) (premiering December)

Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain’s Journey (premiering December)

Adventure in Wonder (premiering December)

Wonder originals join more than 125 licensed titles and over 1,000 hours of hand-picked films and TV series across multiple genres—including Sherlock, The Conners, The Sandlot, The Sound of Music, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Pride & Prejudice, Jesus Revolution and more—available on Wonder Project on Prime Video.

A Wonder Project subscription on Prime Video will be available in the U.S. for $8.99/month or $89.99/year. For additional details, visit www.thewonderproject.com/stream.

And a Taste of What Gunn Had to Say

On casting that not-exactly-imposing Michael Iskander, an Egyptian-born actor/singer (who recently converted to Catholicism from Coptic Orthodox Christianity) as David:

If David starts out already looking like Henry Cavill, then there’s nowhere for him to go.

And the thing that’s interesting about a shepherd hidden away in the hills, that nobody would’ve ever believed or anticipated would have this future and this destiny. We wanted a kid. We really wanted to find a kid who’s right on the cusp of being able to become a man.

And who also was Middle Eastern, who also had an incredible singing voice, and all of these things.

He’s got an older brother who is a muscular warrior, who seems like he would’ve been the pick to be the one. David is the last pick, the one nobody expected.

And so we thought that he just gave us a perfect opportunity to start there and then to grow into this warrior. So Michael’s been working out and putting on muscle and training in season two. And then in season three, even more so.

I think if we get there, he becomes a warrior over the course of the season and is growing into this in confidence. And so I’m really excited about him and about how much heart and the spirit of David he brings to this role.

On Prime Video allowing House of David Season 2 to go behind an additional paywall:

It was part of the design, I think, along the way to create that safe space. And so they’re great partners for us, and it gives us a huge platform. And we will still be able to put these things on Prime Video, so people can see it that way as well.

But the question is, if you want a safe space, you don’t have to do it, but if you want it, if want that space, it’s there. And so it won’t be the 44 million people that watch season one that join this, and that’s OK. They can all watch it on Prime later.

Episodes 1&2 premiered Oct. 5. Here’s a preview of Episode 3, launching Oct. 12: