Last October, season two of House of David, starring Michael Iskander as the Old Testament rock-slinger, was the tentpole offering for the new Wonder Project streamer within Prime Video — but people who just had Prime couldn’t watch it.
Since season one had been a blockbuster hit for Prime Video, that made a lot of people very unhappy. Well, patience is its own reward.
On March 27, the Bible-based drama moves out from behind the Wonder Project paywall and comes to all Prime subscribers.
What Happens in Season 2 of House of David?
From Prime Video:
In Season 2 of House of David, 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.
House of David at ChosenCon
Last month, I headed down to Charlotte, North Carolina, for a whirlwind trip to visit the third iteration of ChosenCon, the convention for fans of the hit Gospel-based series The Chosen.
But, amid all The Chosen stars on the teal carpet (more on that to come), other faith series were also spotlighted, and one of those was House of David.
On hand to talk about it were showrunner Jon Gunn and star Michael Iskander.
I saw both on the teal carpet at the event, and I got a chance to briefly tease Iskander about the work he’s put in to bulk up to play the young warrior king.
His boss has noticed. Commented Jon Gunn:
Michael just keeps getting bigger. Because this is a story, a hero’s journey.
From a shepherd to a king, right? So Season 1 was David the shepherd. Season 2 is David the warrior. So hopefully one day soon, people will see David as Season 3 as the king.
But that requires him becoming more of a man and a soldier and a warrior. So he’s putting the time in and putting on the weight and bulking up.
We’ve got arguably the original hero of the hero’s journey.
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Iskander, David and the Holy Spirit
It’s been quite a ride for the Egyptian-born actor and singer, who came out of obscurity to play the then-shepherd David in season one of House of David.
He still can’t quite believe it:
Honestly, I’m just trying to put my head down and just take it day by day. I think coming here to Chosen Con and seeing how many people there are that are affected by The Chosen, are affected by House of David, it just gives more fuel for the fire.
And I believe the success of the show is the work of the Holy Spirit ultimately, but it’s also the fans who watch and who take the time to support us and to fly out and to come to these events.
I’m not doing anything. I’m just along for the ride and I’m letting him guide me.
He added:
I mean, the whole point of that story is just repentance and the heart. So yeah, it’s such a tremendous blessing.
The King With the Crooked Crown
Those who know the story of King David understand that he was “a man after God’s own heart,” but hardly a perfect person.
Spoiler alert for Bible newbies, but later on in the story, David covets another man’s wife and then arranges that man’s death to have her — both actions in direct defiance of God’s commandments.
I asked Gunn about the “complicated” aspects of David’s later life, and he said:
That’s a very kind word. I think the first three seasons of House of David as an art, like that idea of taking David from shepherd to king.
There’s a whole other trilogy of David’s later life where there’s much less heroic actions that he really pays the price for and laments in many of the songs.
Even as an anointed one, he makes some terrible, terrible choices. Yeah. And it’s interesting because we’re planting the seeds for some of those things.
And the idea of lifting someone like David up because he’s such a powerful man, a man after God’s own heart, but then also does unforgivable things. And you don’t want to shy away from the truth of those flaws are very real.
You recognize the thing that David had that Saul didn’t have was a heart of humility … and a recognition of his own flaws and response.
Michael Iskander and the Church
Last year, Iskander, who was baptized into the Coptic Orthodox Church, converted to Catholicism.
In the crush of the teal carpet, I didn’t have time to do any more regarding that than just to welcome him home to the Church. I hope to get back with him soon to talk more about it, but he has spoken eloquently about his conversion.
Last October, Iskander spoke to EWTN News:
Iskander’s journey toward Catholicism started several years ago when he happened to stumble into St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. Although tourists filled the historic cathedral, Iskander went in, sat down in a pew, put his head down, and felt “as if nothing existed.”
“I looked at the altar knowing that’s where the Eucharist lies and I’m like, ‘I want the Eucharist.’ And I remember feeling this moment of extreme holiness,” he recalled. “I was like, ‘This is where the Eucharist is.’ And I put my head down and I started weeping for an hour straight — not praying, nothing, just weeping. And it felt like nobody else was there except for me and God.”
He credited that day with planting the seed of his interest in Catholicism. From then on, he began attending Mass. As he learned more about King David in preparation for the show, that interest, which became a calling, kept growing.
“I was like, ‘This is home, God is calling me here,’ and it just kept getting louder and louder and louder,” he said.
And just today, he sat down with Father Mike Schmitz of Ascension Presents:
With Jonathan Roumie on The Chosen, and now Iskander on House of David, it’s great to see Catholic actors who are passionate about their craft, and passionate about the Faith, bringing the great figures of the Bible to life for new audiences.
Images: Getty Images for ChosenCon/Kate O’Hare (insert); Prime Video (top)
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