When filmmaker Daniel Kooman talks about his upcoming biblical epic Daniel, he doesn’t open with industry stats or box office predictions. He starts with the Holy Spirit.
“I don’t think you can make a Bible story without the Holy Spirit, at least not accurately,” he told The Christian Post. That perspective is more than just a personal conviction — it’s a mission statement for the future of faith-based entertainment.
As reported by The Christian Post, Daniel is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Christian films in years. It’s not just because the project raised $1.2 million through crowdfunding — a rare feat for independent productions — but because it represents a return to reverent, biblically accurate storytelling led by people of faith.
“The failure of a lot of these other Bible films that came out is that they weren’t done by believers, and they weren’t done with an honor to the text. Which is paramount,” Kooman said.
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The film will cover the first dramatic chapters of the book of Daniel — from the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem to the unforgettable moment in the fiery furnace.
“They were going into Babylon, which was hell, and when they encountered the fiery furnace, that was like going into hell inside of hell,” Kooman said. But the goal isn’t just cinematic excellence. It’s spiritual impact. “If it doesn’t make people want to pick up and authenticate it through the Bible, I think you’ve completely missed the mark,” he emphasized. “Our goal is that people will have a hunger for the Word and actually get into the book of Daniel and into the rest of the Bible. That would be an incredible win.”
The production is a visual and theological undertaking. Filmed on location in India using converted military compounds and palatial structures that mirror ancient Babylon’s golden grandeur, the project also boasts a gritty, reimagined version of Awesome God by Michael W. Smith — designed to drive home the emotional weight of the fiery furnace scene.
“The lyrics are perfect for the fiery furnace,” Kooman said. “It’s been a really cool collaboration.”
Kooman isn’t shy about why he believes Daniel and other projects like The Chosen and House of David are resonating with believers.
“At the end of the day, we’ve been starved of faith-based entertainment,” he said. “There’s such a small percentage that are faith movies — especially biblical movies.” For too long, the Christian audience has been underserved in mainstream media. But the success of these Spirit-led projects is changing the narrative — and the industry is taking notice.
Even pastors and scholars are praising Daniel for its faithfulness to Scripture.
“We have a Hebrew Old Testament scholar who reviewed the script and said it was the most accurate of any of the films they had reviewed,” Kooman revealed. That kind of endorsement doesn’t come from flashy effects or clever marketing — it comes from prayer, careful study, and a team committed to honoring God with every frame.
With a 2026 release date, Daniel is the first of what Kooman hopes will be a series of films unpacking the biblical account chapter by chapter. But he says this movement won’t grow without grassroots support.
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“If people of faith want to see more of these kinds of films, they have to come behind us and support us,” he said. “We’re going to be doing campaigns to get churches and youth groups to go and book out a theater.”
In an age where media shapes minds and culture more than ever, the church cannot afford to sit on the sidelines.
“Our goal is sincerely to see people open the Word and be brought into the Word in a new way. And for this generation, that means film. That’s how people are absorbing media — on their phones, in theaters, on TV. If we can pack that with faith-based content, we’ll be showing that there’s a demand — and that’s only going to help in the future,” says Kooman.
The hunger is real. The audience is ready. And with Spirit-filled creators leading the way, Daniel could be the start of something far greater than a single movie — it could be the spark of a revival in biblical cinema.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
