‘The Old Stories: Moses’ is one of the best family series of the summer 

There’s a new Bible-based series on television, and it just might be the most binge-worthy family watch of the summer.

The Old Stories: Moses launched in May on Wonder Project as a three-part live-action series, offering families a fast-paced and engaging introduction to the biblical leader who encountered God in a burning bush, confronted Pharaoh and led the Israelites through the Red Sea. It stars Ben Kingsley as Moses and O-T Fagbenle as Pharaoh and was produced by the same company and filmmaker, Jon Erwin, who brought audiences House of David. 

The series is promoted as a companion to Wonder Project’s House of David and opens each episode with actor Michael Iskander reprising his role as David, quietly listening as his elderly father, Jesse, recounts to a group of children the story of the man who forever changed the history of the Israelites. But the focus quickly shifts to Moses.

It’s a gripping and inspiring series for people of faith, even if it may not receive the same level of attention as House of David or The Chosen. That is due in part to its brevity: The episodes run about 20 minutes each, and the series concludes after three installments.

Erwin has explained the shorter format by saying it is designed for families seeking a bite-sized biblical story that can hold the attention of younger viewers. Obviously, this streamlined approach also allows the project to move from concept to completion in just a few months – at a fraction of the cost. (Remarkably, Erwin said the idea originated only last December.)

Despite its short length, the series stands out for three reasons.

First, and most importantly, it is remarkably faithful to Scripture, including details often omitted from other depictions of Moses. For example, the series portrays Moses as a man in his 80s, reflecting the biblical account. It also includes the lesser-known miracle of Moses’ hand becoming leprous and then healed, as recorded in Exodus 4.

Second, the series is unapologetically God-centered. One particularly memorable scene shows Moses speaking to a frightened young boy before the crossing of the Red Sea and pointing him not to himself but to the Lord: “Behold, the power of your God.” The boy then races through the crowd, excitedly urging others to look toward the sea and witness what God is about to do. The sequence depicting the parting of the sea may be the most visually impressive portrayal of that event ever brought to the screen.

Third, it is entertaining. The pacing is brisk, the storytelling is engaging, and the production feels larger than its modest runtime. At times, it plays more like a feature film than a television series.

The visuals were created through a form of AI-assisted “hybrid filmmaking” that Erwin says significantly reduced production costs and made the project possible. In fact, Erwin is already discussing future installments in The Old Stories franchise focused on other Old Testament figures. For families of faith, that’s welcome news.

Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars.