Dubai-based radio and live broadcasting channel MBC is ramping up production with several new high-end shows.
Among them are “Rise of The Witches”, billed as the biggest Saudi TV series to date, “The Devil’s Promise” produced by British writer Tony Jordan, and the crime thriller “1001 Nights”.
Sam Barnett, CEO of MBC Group, said in an interview that MBC Studios now has 65 projects in various stages, and emphasized that the Saudi-owned company is committed to serving as a driver to help launch the emerging industry in the Kingdom.
“Rise of the Witches” (first look image above) is based on a Saudi novel described by Barnett as a “fictional novel set 1,500 years ago in the time of the witches” with a strong female empowerment theme.
Written by British actor and writer Charlie Higson (“Young Bond” novel series), who worked alongside two Saudi writers on “Witches,” the show traces the rise of two witch groups who eventually go to war with each other.
Irish Emmy-nominated director Declan O’Dower (“Free Rein”) and British actor Craig Pickles (“London Kills”) direct the “Witches” series, with Dominic Barlow (“The Last Kingdom”) serving as runner and producer alongside MBC Studios president Rasha Al Imam.
The shooting of “witches” began in January in Neom, a sprawling area in the northwest Along the coast of the Saudi Red Sea With ambitions to become a major hub for the industry as $100 million from the heroes of the seventh century “Desert Warrior” It features an international all-star cast led by “Captain America” star Anthony Mackie, and it was recently filmed.
The plan aims to continue production of the movie “The Magicians,” which includes an all-Saudi crew of more than 100 actors, in Neom until December.
Other cutting edge TV series in MBC’s pipeline include:
“The Devil’s Promise,” a series created by Tony Jordan (“Life on Mars”) “is about a man who makes a deal with the devil to protect his sick wife,” Barnett said. He added that this show will include Saudi, Egyptian and international personalities. It’s all at a very high standard.” Production of “The Devil’s Promise”, which will be released in Arabic and English, will begin in Saudi Arabia soon, directed by British director Colin Teague (“Being Human”). Jordan and Teague previously collaborated on the MBC Saudi series “Rashash”. Based on the true story of a Saudi drug smuggler in the 1980s who was convicted of a murder, he was a huge hit on MBC Shahid VIP.
– “1001 Nights”, the tale-filled modern crime thriller from “One Thousand and One Nights”. This ambitious show is being developed by MBC with American television producer and writer II St. John (“Project Blue Book”, “Chicago Fire”) and Irish-British director/writer Steve Barron (“Around the World in 80 Days”) both attached.
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