World Premiere of DAVID – News

On December 8, 2025, the world premiere of DAVID was held at Megaplex Theatres Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. This gallery documents arrivals and attendees through editorial photography syndicated via ZUMA Press. DAVID is an animated biblical musical drama directed by Brent Dawes and Phil Cunningham, written by Dawes and Cunningham, and produced by Steve Pegram, Tim Keller, and Rita Mbanga. Conceived by Cunningham from childhood readings of David’s story in Africa and inspired by Acts 13:22 — “I have found in David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart” — the film is Angel Studios’ first animated musical. Following the success of Jungle Beat, Cunningham and Sunrise Animation Studios announced the project in 2021, with Angel Studios co‑founder Jordan Harmon and actor Kirk Cameron rallying support through crowdfunding. To ensure authenticity, the creative team traveled to Israel, immersing themselves in landscapes and artifacts tied to David’s era — from pottery and a 3,000‑year‑old juglet used for oil, to explorations of Jerusalem, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, the Pool of Siloam, and the Valley of Elah where David faced Goliath. These journeys informed the film’s visual foundation, blending historical research with artistic storytelling. The voice cast includes Phil Wickham as David, Brandon Engman as Young David, Asim Chaudhry as King Achish, Mick Wingert as Zaydel, Lauren Daigle as Rebecca, and Brian Stivale as Samuel. With music composed by Joseph Trapanese, the film brings biblical narrative into a modern animated musical form. DAVID is scheduled to be released in theaters in the United States on December 19, 2025, by Angel Studios. The images presented here reflect a moment of shared presence and symbolic authorship, capturing the dignity of those who gathered to mark the film’s debut. (Credit Image: © Charles‑McClintock Wilson/ZUMA Press Wire)