Michael Iskander has landed the role of a lifetime when he was cast as David in Prime’s new series House of David.
In a past interview with CBN News, Iskander reflected on his ability to “change lives” by joining the cast in such a pivotal role.
“House of David” Season 2 is currently streaming exclusively on the Wonder Project subscription channel through Prime Video, with new episodes released every Sunday. Here’s the special clip:
“I think David is one of the most interesting characters because there are so many dualities to him,” he said. “He embodies what it means to be human, to make mistakes, but to truly have a heart for God and a heart that seeks God’s own heart.”
Iskandar, who said he felt “blessed” to be able to tell this story, explained how the experience of painting David changed his view of the Bible and the people it depicts.
“Now I look at it from just a human perspective,” he said. “So I brought into the story the conditions of the time and the conditions of the people. I think it gives the Bible a completely different perspective and makes it more interesting to read and discover.”
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Iskander said it was exciting to be able to put such a fascinating lens on the Bible. Quoting Proverbs 3:5-6, he spoke about the importance of trusting God and letting the Lord guide His path. At the end of the day, he knows that “House of David” is entertainment for many, but he believes this project is really about the Lord.
“You’re making a TV show, and it’s a lot of fun, and your makeup and hair are all fun and cool, but the reason you’re doing it is to glorify God, honor God, and put God first,” he said. “I think that’s one of the ways it changed me. It put all this into perspective and put life into perspective and helped me understand why we live the way we live.”
These insights are infused into his performance as well, as he uses the lessons he has learned to bring his characters to life. The infamous battle between David and Goliath was a moment in particular when Iskander needed to think more deeply about what David must have been feeling.
“I always thought David was a very brave person…a very brave person, but no one is without fear,” he said. “And we find out all the stakes of what it means to be the only person in an entire nation who chooses to stand up to the most terrifying man he’s ever faced…And are you really willing to give up everything in your life to protect those you love?”
Iskander said this background surrounded how they shot and presented the scenes.
“It’s a beautiful thing…just seeing it and living there,” he said. “And I can’t wait for people to see it.”
Ultimately, Iskander wants audiences to view the characters of the Bible through the lens of truth and reality.
“As long as there are people in front of me, as long as the Bible comes to life, my job is done,” he said. “It’s not my job to tell them how I feel. It’s my job to be honest about it.”
Iskander also shared the fact that his foray into acting was essentially accidental.
“It was like the first two weeks of school, my sophomore year…we were swapping seats that day and I happened to be sitting next to a friend of mine who was in the choir or something,” he said. “Then the director happened to say to all the students, ‘If you’ll let the boys audition for the choir, I’ll give you $10 because we don’t have enough boys.'”
His friend, who is looking for $10, asks if he would like to try an easy way to get some cash. Iskander said, “Of course,” and did a great job. Before I knew it, I was joining a choir and appearing in musicals. See above for details.
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