Bible epic ‘David’ has ‘the hand of God on it,’ actor Brian Stivale says

The actor who voices Samuel in the upcoming animated film David says he believes the project bears the hand of God – and is praying it will impact millions.

Brian Stivale, a veteran voice actor known for his work in video games and commercials, is part of the new Angel Studios musical David (PG), which releases in theaters Friday and chronicles the life of the Old Testament figure – from his days as a shepherd boy to his rise as king and his reign over Israel.

It stars Brandon Engman as young David and Christian singer Phil Wickham as adult David. Another well-known Christian singer, Lauren Daigle, voices Rebecca. 

It is billed as the most significant animated biblical musical in decades and has drawn comparisons to the hit 1998 film The Prince of Egypt. A TV miniseries prequel, Young David, helped build an audience and context for the feature film. Engman also voiced David in that project. 

“This movie truly does have the hand of God on it,” Stivale told The Lion. “This is not your typical animated film in any way, shape or form. 

“I believe everybody’s going to have that same kind of kindred experience that I had – where they see the heart of the filmmakers was a heart after God to bless the Lord and to really see this story inspire an entirely new generation.”

Co-director Phil Cunningham first dreamed of telling David’s story on screen some 30 years ago, while canoeing down an African river and reading the biblical account in Scripture. He told Animation Scoop he wants to give viewers “an on-ramp onto God’s heart.” Cunningham is best known as the producer behind The Jungle Beat movie (2020) and television series, as well as the 2011 film The Lion of Judah. 

“When I first read the synopsis [and] the script for the audition for David,” Stivale said, “it had the heart for something that I desperately thought the Kingdom needed in the entertainment industry.” 

The film draws from David’s story in the biblical books of 1 and 2 Samuel – a story that “really does speak to generations about God’s faithfulness and what it means to have a heart after God,” Stivale added. 

“I [also] felt like this was a love letter to the Holy Land, to the land and the people,” Stivale said, noting that Jesus and all the major characters in the New Testament were Jewish.  

“They all lived in the land,” he said, referencing Israel. 

Stivale said he sees similarities between David and The Prince of Egypt, the blockbuster DreamWorks film that blended cinematic scale with a Bible-based approach to storytelling. They are, he said, from the same “thread.” 

It’s not the first faith-based role for Stivale, who also co-pastors King of Kings Community in Los Angeles, a Messianic Jewish congregation. He previously appeared in the Christian animated series The Garden, though he is better known for his extensive voice work in mainstream animation, video games and national commercials. 

He wants millions of children to experience David in the theater, believing its message about God’s love can transform them.  

“I pray that they go to the car feeling fully inspired and lifted up – entertained – but inspired.”