DUBAI: US-based Saban Films has secured the American and Canadian rights to “The Ambush,” an Emirati action movie produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi and AGC International.
The film, the Arabic title of which is “Al-Kameen,” was directed by Pierre Morel. It was released in the UAE on November 2021 across 185 screens and is officially the country’s highest-grossing Arabic-language film, according to a company statement.
Saban said the film, its first non-English-language acquisition, is slated for a theatrical release on Oct. 28 followed by its on-demand and digital debut on Nov. 1.
“As more and more (people) embrace international content, we’re thrilled to bring Pierre Morel’s incredible film to a wider audience,” said Bill Bromiley, the president of Saban Films.
“As Saban’s first foreign-language film, ‘The Ambush,’ a story about unwavering resilience, will continue to inspire audiences around the world.”
The film features an all-Emirati main cast, including Omar bin Haider, Marwan Abdullah Saleh, Mohammed Ahmed, Mansoor Alfeeli and Khalifa Albahri. It tells the story of three Emirati soldiers who become trapped in a remote canyon when their armored vehicle is attacked by heavily armed enemies. Their only hope for survival is a daring rescue mission plotted by their commander.
“The Ambush” was written by Brandon Birtell and Kurtis Birtell in collaboration with the soldiers involved a real-life 2018 incident that inspired the story.
The film is produced by Derek Dauchy and Jennifer Roth, with Stuart Ford and Jerome Lateur serving as executive producers.
