Introduction to Desert Warrior
An upcoming historical action drama, Desert Warrior, is set to premiere four years after filming. This Hollywood-style film is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, with a budget of $150 million. The movie features a star-studded lineup, including Captain America star Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, and Ben Kingsley.
Production and Premiere
Directed by British filmmaker Rupert Wyatt, known for his work on Rising of the Planet of the Apes, the film is produced by Saudi’s MBC Studios and Jeremy Bolt’s American JB Pictures. AGC International, the sales and distribution arm of Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios, will handle worldwide sales. Desert Warrior will receive its world premiere as a gala screening at the Zurich Film Festival on September 28th.
Filming and Locations
The film was shot at the Saudi Megacity Project at Neom, Saudi Arabia’s megacity. After preparing at the end of 2020, production was halted for four months due to Covid before resuming in June 2021. The crew then shot for 81 days from September to Christmas. The film aims to showcase the striking locations and state-of-the-art infrastructure at NEOM.
Storyline and Cast
The story, written by Wyatt, Erica Beery, and David Self, takes place in 7th-century Arabia, where feuds fought for power. Princess Hind, played by Aiysha Hart, refuses to serve the merciless Sassanid Emperor Kisra, played by Ben Kingsley, as a concubine. She escapes into the desert with her father and is pursued by a mercenary, played by Sharlto Copley, and his troops. Anthony Mackie plays a mysterious bandit who joins forces with Hind to aid the auxiliary tribes against the Sassanid Empire, leading to an epic showdown.
Support and Initiative
The project was supported by the Saudi Film Commission through its cash rebate program and the Quality of Life initiative, a Saudi government initiative aimed at increasing tourism and entertainment infrastructure as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 program. According to MBC Studios, the film’s premiere in Zurich marks a significant milestone in the project’s journey.
