Draft:David (2025 film)
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| David | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Brent Dawes Phil Cunningham |
| Screenplay by | Brent Dawes Phil Cunningham |
| Based on | Book of Samuel |
| Produced by |
|
| Music by | Jason Halbert (score) Jonas Myrin (songs) |
Production companies | Slingshot Productions Sunrise Animation Studios |
| Distributed by | Angel Studios |
Release date |
|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
David is a 2025 upcoming American animated epic drama coming of age biblical musical film featuring the titular character of the same name based on the Book of Samuel from the Old Testament. Distributed by Angel Studios and produced by Slingshot Productions and Sunrise Animation Studios, it is a follow-up to the 2023-2024 five-part television miniseries Young David which was written and directed by Brent Dawes and Phil Cunningham that tells the story of a young Israelite shepherd, poet, warrior and musician who is predestined to become the new King of Israel and embarks on an extraordinary journey of epic proportions from beyond the shadow of an evil Philistine giant to prove his people that true power lies not in a kingship but in faith and freedom.
David is scheduled to be released in theaters in the United States on November 21, 2025.
Premise
[edit]In an effort to save the Kingdom of Israel from the Philistines, a young Bethlehem musical shepherd and poet/warrior named David, who is predestined to become the new King of Israel, embarks on an journey from beyond the shadow of the Philistine giant Goliath in an attempt to show the Israelites that true power lies not from within Saul's kingship but in their faith of God and freedom from their enemies.
Voice cast
[edit]Production
[edit]Development
[edit]In October 2021, after coming out of their success with Jungle Beat and Jungle Beat: The Movie, co-writer, co-director and co-executive producer Phil Cunningham and co-executive producer Jaqui Cunningham announced with a demo video that Sunrise Animation Studios would produce Angel Studios' first animated musical film about the life of David based on the Book of Samuel found from the Old Testament in the same quality and entertainment value of Tangled, Frozen and Moana which Cunningham had conceived from his childhood in Africa while reading David's story in the Bible and an quote from Acts 13:22: "I have found in David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart".[1][2][3] Cunningham and Angel Studios co-founder Jordan Harmon stated that the intention for David was to bring back animated biblical stories for the whole world to enjoy with.[4] Kirk Cameron informed his YouTube viewers about his support for Angel Studios and Sunrise Animation Studios in creating the film and urged them to invest in the project through crowdfunding.[5] In December 2021, Cunningham, co-writer and co-director Brent Dawes and art director Lynton Levengood streamed live about the concept art, animation, set design and color keys of David.[6]
In order to conduct in the research for David, the team made their flight trip to Israel where they drove around the country and were immersed in the environment with their tour guide including the pottery from David's time and a 3000-year-old juglet used for decanting oil that they purchased.[7] The team highlighted deeper into important places relevant to their research including the original city of Jerusalem, Hezekiah's tunnel, the Pool of Siloam and the Israel Museum.[8] They continued their adventure in Israel with a focus on the Valley of Elah and Ziklag, a local shop and concert area where they hiked to Qeiyafa (Shaaraim) which was provided with an incredible view of the battlefield between the Israelites and the Philistines.[9] They also covered most of the scenery of Wadi Qilt, using drone footage to create a sense of scale and great space and covering their barefoot adventure around in the Roman aqueduct, the monastery, Jericho and the Dead Sea.[10] Before long, the team were riding on camels through the Kana`im Valley in Judaean Desert from Kear Hanokdim, a oasis between the city of Arad and the citadel of Masada, to the Bedouin hospitality where they experienced local kindness and a wonderful authentic experience.[11] They documented in the footage of the artifacts including a demonstration of how to make pots, thus showcasing incredible restorative work. They then took up swimming in the Sea of Galilee at Tiberias.[12] Finally, they provided an incredible overview of the geography and essence of the Valley of Elah where the great battle was fought in between David and Goliath during springtime by walking through an river bed where David would have collected the stones for his sling.[13]
Casting
[edit]Animation
[edit]Music
[edit]Grammy Award-winning songwriter and music director Jonas Myrin expressed his interest in providing the songs for David in order to honor Israel through the roots of the country's storytelling in Hebrew and recorded the score in Budapest with the Budapest Film Orchestra.[14][15][16]
Marketing
[edit]Release
[edit]David is scheduled to be released in theaters in the United States on November 21, 2025.[17]
Reception
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "The David Movie - Demo Video - New Animation 2022". YouTube. October 21, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "The DAVID Movie - Demo and Creator Intro". YouTube. October 30, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Limited Time to Invest!". YouTube. December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "How David is Bringing Back Animated Biblical Stories for Everyone". YouTube. October 12, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Why Kirk Cameron Supports DAVID". YouTube. December 16, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Limited Time to Invest!". YouTube. December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "The David Movie - The Adventure Begins". YouTube. April 21, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "The David Movie - Hezekiah's Tunnel". YouTube. May 5, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "The David Movie - Valley of Elah". YouTube. May 19, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "The David Movie - Wadi Qilt". YouTube. May 26, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "The David Movie - Judean Desert". YouTube. June 30, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "The David Movie - Sea of Galilee". YouTube. July 7, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "The David Movie - Back to the Valley of Elah". YouTube. July 14, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ^ "How David is Bringing Back Animated Biblical Stories for Everyone". YouTube. October 12, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "The Music Behind DAVID w/ Jonas Myrin". YouTube. December 4, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Limited Time to Invest!". YouTube. December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ Goldsmith, Jill (April 10, 2024). "Angel Studios Sets Release Dates For 'Bonhoeffer', 'Homestead' & New Animated Musical 'David' – CinemaCon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 10, 2024.