Saudi media company, MBC Studios is currently shooting one of the Kingdom’s biggest productions thus far. Titled Rise of the Witches, the fantasy-adventure series is based off the best-selling mythology books authored by Saudi novelist Osamah Almuslim.
Split into 10 parts, the plot will take viewers back to ancient Arabian times when the world is dominated by male magicians that want to forbid women from using their birth-given magical powers. The story puts the spotlight on two rival witch covens, their respective histories, and dubious ties.
The forthcoming series has the highest budget allocated for special effects for a Saudi production to date. It’s also the biggest series to ever be produced with a homegrown Saudi cast. Heavily supported by NEOM, three custom-made studio sets were also erected to bring the promising venture to life. All these efforts can be considered as part of the Kingdom’s vision to build and develop a better local film and television scene within the region.
Abu Alsamh, General Manager of MBC, labeled the show as “a true homegrown production” that would include “recognizable and new faces, with talent both in front of and behind the cameras coming from our very own MBC Academy and MBC Talent hubs.”
Set to debut on Shahid, MBC’s own streaming platform, later this year, viewers can expect a slew of Saudi homegrown talents to spearhead the upcoming show as it will feature the likes of Ida AlKusay and Sumaya Rida as the two lead witches and MBC’s Abu Alsamh attached as executive producer.