Long before David ever stood before a giant, he stood before God with a song in his heart. That truth is at the center of David, a new animated musical film shaped by faith, perseverance, and worship. In a heartfelt conversation with GodTube’s own Janna Bailey, David director and producer Phil Cunningham shared how this story has been decades in the making and deeply personal to his walk with God.
Phil explained that music is not just part of the film, it is the very heartbeat of it. Scripture tells us David wrote many of the Psalms, pouring out joy, fear, sorrow, and praise with raw honesty. That is why the soundtrack was released first, inviting audiences to feel the spirit of the story before ever seeing a single frame.
Phil’s journey with David began far from Hollywood, while canoeing down the Zambezi River in Africa. Surrounded by creation, he encountered God in a powerful way and was drawn to the words describing David as “a man after God’s own heart.” In that sacred moment, a calling was planted, one that would take years of patience, wilderness seasons, and trust to fulfill.
"For me, that's when I fell in love with God," Phil said.
As he shared with Janna, the film was shaped by community and perseverance. Hundreds of artists across the world came together, walking through setbacks and long seasons of waiting, much like David himself. Phil believes those wilderness moments were not wasted, but necessary.
"It was a community; it was a team that actually managed to get us there," Phil said. "Not one hero, but a group of people who really believed in the vision of the Arc de Triomphe and kept encouraging each other to get there. And mostly, I would say, God is the hero of the story. He carried us when, I think, we were ready to give up. Yeah, there were definitely moments like that, for sure.
At its core, David is an invitation. You do not have to be perfect to walk with God. You can bring Him your fear, your questions, and your praise. Like David, you are invited to live wholeheartedly, trusting the Good Shepherd who walks with you through every battle and every song.
In the film, David, as an adult, is voiced by Christian music superstar Phil Wickham. In the interview, Phil explains why the musician was the perfect person to voice this legendary biblical character in the film.
"We didn't select him because of marketing," Phil said. "We selected him because we found out so many singers actually can't act. But Phil can sing, obviously, but he's also a great actor. And then, on top of that, he really brings this beautiful energy and humility and spirit of invention, which is what we really wanted to come out of the David character. So, he was like just a perfect fit, almost like he is a modern-day David. And his work ethic is incredible."
To purchase tickets, find showings and more information on the film, click here.
