The story of King David, a figure central to both Jewish and Christian tradition, is coming to the screen with “David: King of Israel,” a new four-part docudrama premiering Thursday on Fox Nation. Hosted by actor Zachary Levi, known for roles in “Shazam!” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” the series aims to portray the biblical king’s life with cinematic scope and historical grounding. The project arrives as interest in biblical narratives remains strong, following the success of other faith-based productions like Amazon’s “House of David.”
Levi, a practicing Christian who grew up reading the stories of the Bible, described David’s story as particularly compelling. “David always jumped out at me. In some ways even more than the story of Jesus,” he said, adding that the narrative is “full of drama, intrigue, romance, betrayal, and war. It’s like ‘Lord of the Rings’ in the Bible.” The series, he hopes, will offer a message of hope and redemption relevant to contemporary audiences, particularly in a world marked by ongoing conflict. “The only way to truly battle darkness is to battle it with light,” Levi stated.
The production of “David: King of Israel” involved filming in South Africa, a location chosen for its established infrastructure for faith-based productions. According to Jonathan Towers, vice president of development for Fox Nation, the country offered existing biblical sets, costumes, and a skilled acting community. South African actor Nahum Hughes stars as King David. The series was created by Warm Springs Productions, with David Cunningham, Marc Pierce, Chris Richardson, and Bridger Pierce serving as executive producers.
To ensure accuracy, the production team consulted with a range of historians, archaeologists, and religious experts, including Rabbi Meir Soloveitchik, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki, and Ze’ev Orenstein, director of the City of David in Israel. While acknowledging some “creative license” was taken with costume design where historical evidence was unclear, Cunningham emphasized the team’s commitment to historical accuracy in areas where information was available, such as priestly garments and Goliath’s armor.
The docudrama’s release follows the 2025 premiere of “House of David,” an eight-episode series on Amazon Prime Video that quickly became one of the platform’s most-watched shows. Levi positioned the new Fox Nation series as complementary to “House of David,” emphasizing its focus on “diving straight into the history and the biblical source” rather than taking extensive creative liberties.
Levi’s own journey to this project has included navigating challenges related to perceptions in Hollywood. In a 2016 interview, he recounted instances where he was passed over for roles due to casting directors assuming he was Jewish based on his stage name, despite being a Christian. The New York Daily News reported on these experiences at the time.
Despite a reported rise in antisemitism and hostility toward Israel in Hollywood, Levi expressed optimism that the “King David” series could foster interfaith understanding. He also voiced surprise at what he perceives as a distancing from heritage among some Jewish individuals in the entertainment industry. “I walk to the beat of my own drum in Hollywood,” Levi said. “I believe when you stand for right and fight for the light you can’t be wrong.”
Levi continued, expressing frustration with what he sees as a broader societal inability to discern truth. “We need to discover a way to stop the poisoning of our minds,” he said. “We are living in strange times. We need to be coming together and telling stories that are redemptive and full of hope.”
The series utilizes an LED stage in Los Angeles to immerse viewers in biblical settings, allowing Levi to narrate against backdrops of ancient caves and villages.
Fox Nation’s “David: King of Israel” will be released weekly, beginning this Thursday, as part of the platform’s FOX Faith vertical, which also features the second season of Martin Scorsese’s “The Saints.” Viewers can expect a dramatic retelling of David’s life, from his humble beginnings as a shepherd to his reign as a powerful king. The next installment of the series, detailing David’s early battles and rise to prominence, will be available on Fox Nation next week.
Share your thoughts on the new series and its portrayal of this iconic biblical figure in the comments below.
