'House of David' producer goes up against Goliaths with a subscription service

Wonder Project wants to bring faith-based TV into the 21st century, looking beyond the devout to win mainstream viewers too with inspirational storytelling.'

- Story by Jim Halterman

IF THE TERM “FAITH PROGRAMMING” CONJURES IMAGES of Jesus Christ or Bible-thumping pastors in your head, you likely haven't seen one of the titles on Wonder Project’s slate. Along with shingles like Angel Studios (‘Sound of Freedom’) and 5&2 Studios (‘The Chosen’), the production company behind the hit TV series “House of David” is taking faith-based film and television far beyond the strictly religious content of a bygone era.

Onto the front lines of the streaming wars, for instance. With the Oct. 5 launch of a subscription-based channel for $8.99 per month, or $89.99 per year, on either a standalone app or via an existing Prime Video subscription, Wonder Project is betting on a more modern approach to the faith-based, or values, market — in terms of both storytelling and platform. “What we're seeing now is that faith programming is broader, more nuanced and more contemporary than it may have been in the past,” says Traci Blackwell, a senior development executive at Amazon MGM Studios. “It often explores themes of hope, perseverance, community and moral complexity in ways that resonate with both faith-based and mainstream audiences.” Wonder Project Chief Executive Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten worked with founder and Chief Content Officer Jon Erwin to pinpoint and build a broad programming slate built around four thematic “circles”: God, family, country and dreams.