DUBAI: First images for Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah Saudi-shot action thriller “Seven Dogs” have dropped as the production shoots outside the capital of Riyadh.

The $40 million project from the “Bad Boys for Life” directorial duo is being shot at the newly inaugurated Alhisn Big Time Studios in Riyadh, one of the Middle East and North Africa region’s biggest film and television production facilities, with additional filming at Riyadh Boulevard. Riyadh will also serve as a stand-in for multiple international cities, including Mumbai and Shanghai.

The thriller is based on an original story by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority.

Egyptian stars Karim Abdel Aziz (“The Blue Elephant,” “Kira & El Gin,” “Abu Ali”) and Ahmed Ezz (“Kira & El Gin,” “The Cell,” “Welad Rizk”) headline the action film.

Ezz plays Interpol officer Khalid Al-Azzazi who apprehends Ghali Abu Dawood (Aziz), a high-ranking member of the clandestine global crime syndicate known as Seven Dogs. A year later, the organization resurfaces, trafficking a dangerous new drug — Pink Lady — across the Middle East.

With time running out, Khalid reluctantly joins forces with Ghali, the only person with intimate knowledge of the syndicate’s operations. Their uneasy alliance propels them on a high-stakes mission across multiple global cities as they strive to dismantle the organization and prevent the drug from flooding Arab streets.

“Seven Dogs” is slated for a late 2025 release.
 

DUBAI: Egyptian Palestinian actress May Calamawy took to social media this week to promote her latest film, “The Actor.”

The actress, who previously took on a leading role in Marvel series “Moon Knight,” stars alongside US actor Andre Holland and English actress Gemma Chan in the indie film.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by May Calamawy (@calamawy)

“Had the BEST TIME with everyone on #TheActor, showing in select theatres today  (sic),” Calamawy wrote on Instagram alongside a carousel of behind-the-scenes images from the set of the film.

The movie follows fictional actor Paul Cole who is beaten and left for dead in 1950s era Ohio.  He loses his memory and finds himself stranded in a mysterious small town where he struggles to get back home to New York and reclaim what he has lost.

The film was directed by Duke Johnson, co-produced by “Suits” alum Abigail Spencer and executive produced by Ryan Gosling. The film was scripted by Johnson and Stephen Cooney and is based on the bestselling novel “Memory” by Donald E. Westlake.

Calamawy is known for her roles in US Netflix series “Ramy” and “Moon Knight” (2022), where she plays dual characters Layla El-Faouly  and the Scarlet Scarab.

She made headlines in late 2024 when almost all her scenes were cut from Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II,” with fans taking to social media to complain.

Her casting in the film was first announced in May 2023.

At the time, Deadline reported that Scott had cast Calamawy after a lengthy search, writing: “While many of the leading roles were straight offers, Scott wanted to do a similar search he did for the (Paul) Mescal part for the role that Calamawy ultimately landed.

“Given the importance of the character to the story, Scott wanted a thorough search, and following multiple auditions Calamawy landed the part,” Deadline added.

However, fans noticed that in the final cut, which hit cinemas in November, Calamawy is only seen in passing and she has no dialogue. Scott did not comment on Calamawy’s removal from the two hour and 28-minute film.