Something unusual happened on the set of the upcoming biblical epic “Daniel and the Fiery Furnace” when one of Scripture’s most powerful prophecies was spoken, and the filmmakers believe more was at play than could be seen.
Brothers Daniel and Matthew Kooman recently joined CBN News’ “Faith in Culture” to discuss the upcoming film, which hits theaters nationwide Sept. 18. But amid the conversation about bringing biblical epics back to the big screen, Daniel Kooman revealed a striking moment that occurred while filming a scene straight out of Daniel 2.
The scene depicts Daniel standing before King Nebuchadnezzar, recounting and interpreting the king’s mysterious dream. Mena Massoud, who portrays Daniel, began delivering the prophetic words about earthly kingdoms that would eventually give way to an everlasting kingdom.
Then, according to Kooman, the atmosphere on set suddenly shifted.
“A wind blows across the set,” Kooman told CBN News, describing tents striking walls and blowing around behind the cameras. Then came rain and “a crack of thunder.”
What made the moment particularly striking to Kooman was the timing.
After 25 days of preparation and filming with nothing comparable occurring, he said the weather suddenly eri[ted while the prophetic words concerning the everlasting kingdom were being delivered.
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“All of the sudden the natural realm responded to those words of prophetic scripture,” Kooman said.
Was it simply dramatic timing—or something more?
For the brothers, the moment became part of a much larger spiritual journey surrounding the film.
Kooman said the filmmakers deliberately invited the Holy Spirit into the production and approached the writing process as a meditation on Scripture. Their guiding question wasn’t merely whether a scene would look spectacular on the big screen, but whether it would honor God’s Word.
That commitment was especially important because the filmmakers say “Daniel and the Fiery Furnace” doesn’t shy away from Scripture’s prophetic and messianic dimensions. Kooman described it as an Old Testament story carrying a New Testament message.
But bringing that vision to theaters apparently didn’t come without battles.
Matthew Kooman told CBN News that prayer became essential throughout production. At times, when things seemed to be going smoothly, circumstances could suddenly spiral, whether because of the weather or what he described as a dramatic shift in the energy on set.
“The biggest thing about spiritual warfare is staying in it, trusting that God’s going to show up,” he said.
His comments offer a sobering reminder for believers: resistance doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to retreat.
Sometimes the fire is precisely where faith is tested.
That message lies at the heart of Daniel. Daniel refused to abandon his allegiance to God in Babylon, while Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego chose a blazing furnace over bowing before Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image.
Thousands of years later, their stories remain startlingly relevant in a culture increasingly asking Christians where they will draw the line.
That is one reason the Koomans say they chose Daniel. One of the movie’s taglines is “standing for the truth,” and Daniel Kooman noted that believers today continually face moments when they must decide what they are willing to stand for.
The filmmakers are also adamant that biblical faithfulness remain central to the project. After initially pitching the concept to larger studios, they ultimately pursued crowdfunding rather than surrender too much control over the storytelling.
And their ultimate definition of success may be the most countercultural part of the entire project.
It’s not just a blockbuster opening weekend.
Daniel Kooman said success would be seeing audiences leave the theater and open the book of Daniel for themselves.
In an entertainment industry obsessed with franchises, spectacle and box-office numbers, these filmmakers are betting on something far older—and far more powerful.
The Word of God.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
