House of Gods on ABC – An ambitious Iraqi Australian family grapples with newfound power and privilege when their charismatic patriarch is elected Head Cleric of The Messenger mosque.
It’s election day at the Messenger Mosque and the charismatic Sheikh Mohammad (Kamel El Basha) is the favourite to win. On his way to a radio interview with his daughter Hind (Safia Arain), he allows a group of girls to take selfies with him. One kisses him.
During the radio interview, the radio interviewer grills him over the controversial picture – is he trying to re-write Islamic law by suggesting males and females can touch outside of marriage? The kiss could have cost him the election.
After a brick is thrown through the window of Sheikh Mohammad’s house, the Sheikh asks to speak to the elders in the community at a tribal council. The Sheikh defends himself in front of his opponent Sheikh Shaaker (Simon Elrahi), and the elders.
At election night in the mosque, Sheikh Mohammad finally condemns his actions, acknowledging he must be a leader for everyone in the community. The votes are read, and Sheikh Mohammad wins. But what no-one knows is that his son Isa (Osamah Sami) made a deal with Seyyed Modhaffer (Faris Daniel) in return for ensuring his father’s victory – a payment of $25,000 a month.
Production Credit: A Matchbox Pictures Production
House of Gods on ABC and ABC iview – Sunday 25 February, 2024 at 8.30pm.
About House of Gods
The ABC is thrilled to announce the landmark six-part drama series House of Gods premieres Sunday 25 February at 8.30pm on ABC TV, with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview.
House of Gods follows the lives of an ambitious Iraqi Australian family grappling with newfound power and privilege when their charismatic patriarch is elected Head Cleric of their local mosque. This compelling series takes audiences behind the walls of an imam’s family and the community he leads, exploring the personal cost of power and ambition.
Produced by Matchbox Pictures and directed by Fadia Abboud (Here Out West, Year Of, Five Bedrooms) House of Gods features an impressive cast including, Osamah Sami (Ali’s Wedding, Savage River, Shayda), International award-winning actor Kamel El Basha (Our Males and Females, Room 207 ), Maia Abbas (Savage River), Safia Arain (Bump), the late Simon Elrahi (Last King of the Cross), Priscilla Doueihy (Special Ops: Lioness, Babyteeth, Eden) and Majid Shokor (Stateless, Nowhere Boys).
For co-creator, writer and co-executive producer Osamah Sami, who himself grew up as the son of a Head Cleric, House of Gods is a celebration of his community with all its traditions and flaws.
Sami said: “Storytelling is how we all connect. It’s how we tell each other we’re not alone in this world. All the cultural and religious differences go out the door once you realise another person can experience the same feelings as you even though they’re from another part of the world, or their religion or skin colour is different. That’s our hope for House of Gods”.
Production Credit: House of Gods is a Matchbox Pictures production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia and the ABC. Financed with support from Screen NSW. International sales by NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution. Matchbox Pictures is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group. Created by Osamah Sami and Shahin Shafaei, developed by Blake Ayshford, produced by Bree-Anne Sykes and executive produced by Sheila Jayadev, Blake Ayshford and Debbie Lee. ABC Executive Producers Sally Riley and Brett Sleigh.
House of Gods on ABC
TV Central ABC content HERE
