The highly anticipated series House of David has landed today (Thursday, February 27), delivering the first three episodes for eager fans to devour. The eight-part biblical drama will continue to release episodes weekly on Thursdays, leaving viewers in suspense for each new chapter.

The show brings to life the epic tale of David (portrayed by Michael Iskander) and Goliath (Martyn Ford), charting the journey of a humble teenage shepherd as he rises to become Israel’s most revered king, reports the Mirror US.

Fans are buzzing with curiosity about Michael Iskander, the rising talent behind the titular role. Here’s what you need to know: Born in Egypt and relocating to America at the age of nine, Iskander is not only an actor but also a skilled musician.

As per Broadway.com, he mastered English upon his move to the US and is proficient in playing the piano and guitar, with a passion for singing and songwriting in his downtime.

Iskander’s career took off with his professional and Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo. In 2019, he clinched the Spirit of the MACY award and was honoured with a special recognition scholarship at the Jimmy Awards.

Chosen from thousands, Iskander was handpicked to portray David after the producers of House of David embarked on a worldwide hunt for the perfect fit. Jon Erwin, the creator and executive producer of the series, expressed their desire to cast someone who could capture the essence of David – “not just a warrior” but “a poet, a lover, a king in the making”.

Actor Iskander delved into his experience of poring over the House of David scripts for the first time, revealing he could “envision everything right in front” of him. He expressed his admiration for the material, noting: “And I thought it was so beautiful and I thought it was a really interesting take on the story of David,”.

Eager to offer insights into his role, Iskander described his character as multifaceted: “He’s a very complicated person and he has so many sides to him. And I think specifically the warrior side of him, to be able to balance that with someone who is so emotional and feels very deeply and sings and plays the lyre, I think it’s, it’s such an interesting dynamic to have that duality within a person.”

Exploring his character further, he added: “And I really loved exploring that while also exploring his ability to feel deeply.”

Iskander also touched upon a common misconception about his character’s past actions: “People often think that he celebrated killing Goliath. But that’s the first person that David ever killed. And I think David cares about every person and does not take life for granted.”

House of David airs weekly on Thursdays on Prime Video