“House of David”: Prime’s Biblical Epic Set Against Greece’s Stunning Backdrop
“House of David”: Prime’s Biblical Epic Set Against Greece’s Stunning Backdrop
House of David, the new eight-part Biblical series on Prime, was partly filmed in Greece turning the country into ancient Israel.
The series, which has gripped audiences since the first three episodes were released simultaneously last week, was shot in picturesque Greek locations selected for their rugged terrains and ancient ruins that ideally set the scene for the historical drama.
This choice proved ideal for depicting ancient battles, exiles and royal palaces in the House of David series. Spanning across Attica, Peloponnese and Epirus, the extensive on-location shoot vividly captures the essence of the era, immersing viewers in a world of kings and prophets.
House of David, created by Jon Erwin for Amazon Prime Video, tells the story of the rise of Israel’s greatest king. The series follows the rise of David, the second king of Israel, tracing his journey from a humble shepherd to his legendary battle with Goliath and eventual kingship.
The show features a talented cast, including newcomer Michael Iskander, as well as Ali Suliman, Stephen Lang, Davood Ghadami, Ayelet Zurer, Martyn Ford and Louis Ferreira.
Prime’s House of David locations in Greece
House of David was shot in picturesque Greek locations such as Attica’s Saronikos, Markopoulo, Fyli and Lavrio, Corinth’s Xylokastro and Epirus’ Zagori and Konitsa. In addition it was filmed in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, a hotspot for numerous productions like HBO’s The Last of Us, Euphoria, FX’s Fargo, Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and The Revenant.
Speaking of the challenges faced during the filming, actor Iskander remarked: “You know what? It’s the sheep. The sheep were so difficult to wrangle. And they’re like, genuinely, they ran away from us, one of the takes.
“And we had to go run after them and bring them back. And it was a little cold that day, so maybe that’s why they ran away . . . But yeah. I would say the sheep were actually the most difficult technically.”
He added: “Getting them in a certain position, and then moving them up the mountain, and all this stuff. And then one of the other challenges was filming the David and Goliath sequence.”
Greece emerges as a hotspot in movie productions
Greece has been emerging as a hotspot for international movie productions in recent years after the Greek government introduced attractive tax rebates (up to 40 percent) and cash incentives for international productions, making filming more cost-effective.
Major studios and streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney and Universal, have chosen Greece for productions like Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, The Expendables 4 and Crimes of the Future.
Meanwhile filming for Christopher Nolan’s new Hollywood epic “The Odyssey” begins in Greece’s Messinia in western Peloponnese.