EXCLUSIVE: Cairo-based MAD Options has added rising Egyptian actor Youssef Omar to the solid of UK-Chinese language motion thriller Shashou, which the corporate can even launch throughout Arabic-speaking territories.
“It’s an Arab spin on the packaging technique that Hollywood has lengthy deployed,” mentioned MAD Options co-founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab.
“We stay adamant that Arab artistic abilities ought to take pleasure in the identical standing within the international leisure market as their friends from different areas.”
Based in 2010 to fill a spot within the worldwide promotion of Arab cinema, MAD Options’ actions now span distribution, expertise administration, content material, advertising and worldwide gross sales.
Shashou marks a primary worldwide function for Omar, who was seen most just lately at residence within the high-profile Ramadan collection A Lady’s Youth (Shabab Emraa), co-starring reverse Egyptian actress Ghada Abdel Razek.
The film is being produced by Hong Kong’s Phoenix Waters Productions along with London-based Berkeley Media Group and Ostara Photos, with SC Movies Worldwide dealing with worldwide gross sales.
Along with MAD Options approaching board because the movie’s MENA distributor, South Korea’s Studio Goal is becoming a member of forces because the Korean distributor.
The thriller is ready within the shady world of ex-special forces, the place outcasts Kelly Frost, Rachel Chan, and Inferno unite to cease a billionaire’s plot to destabilize Hong Kong. Amid secrets and techniques and shifting alliances, belief is their solely hope, because the mysterious ‘Shashou’ watches from the shadows.
The movie is being produced and directed by Bizhan Tong, a UK producer, screenwriter, and movie director who’s the founder and CEO of Phoenix Waters Productions, an organization devoted to creating high-concept productions with international enchantment.
Charlie Wong (Warriors of Future), Michael Chuah (Firefly), Yu-Fai Suen (The Eye), and Raimund Berens (Siege On Liperti Road) are additionally producing.
Omar first gained widespread recognition along with his breakthrough function within the 2018 drama Rahim, adopted by his function within the widespread present Girls’s Maadi Home (Sittat Bayt Al Maadi), about three girls from the identical family coping with their husbands’ infidelities.
His huge display credit embrace The Youngsters Of Karim’s Girls (Awlad Hareem Kareem), Underdogs (El Hareefa) and Meen Yasadaq.
Kareem Samy, Managing Companion and Government Director of MAD Movie star, the expertise administration arm of MAD Options, mentioned Omar’s signing to Shashou marked one other step within the company’s mission to broaden alternatives for Arab actors.
“Our aim at MAD has all the time been to discover a means to assist as many Arab abilities — whether or not they be performers or filmmakers — break into the worldwide mainstream and champion Arab cinema wherever attainable on the worldwide stage. This may imply being concerned as an organization in a number of capacities directly.”
Tong mentioned he had solid Omar for Shashou on the premise of his on-screen presence, describing it as “intense, layered, and magnetic”.
“I’m genuinely excited to direct him in Shashou, the place his character performs an important function within the story’s emotional core. This movie brings collectively expertise from throughout continents to honor the legacy of Hong Kong motion cinema whereas reimagining it for a world viewers. I’m grateful to Mad Options for supporting formidable, cross-cultural tasks like these from Phoenix Waters — tales that bridge East and West and converse to audiences world wide,” he mentioned.
Since its institution in 2015, Phoenix Waters Productions has produced a number of award-winning movies together with The Escort. Tong has additionally expanded his work internationally, collaborating with actors reminiscent of Robert Picardo and John Savage, and establishing an Asian hub in Hong Kong. Different notable titles from his filmography embrace the worldwide thriller Lockdown and the Hong Kong remake of Richard Linklater’s Tape.
Movie producer Suen added: “It’s a pleasure for Berkeley Media Group to be working with MAD Options once more and with such a tremendous appearing expertise in Youssef Omar in a full-on motion thriller from our fantastic director Bizhan Tong.”
Omar mentioned of the upcoming alternative: “I’m humbled by everybody’s confidence in me on my first worldwide outing. It’s each actor’s dream to step out of their native trade, and what higher method to do it than in a undertaking like Shashou underneath a world-class director like Bizhan Tong. I merely can’t wait to get began.”
