DUBAI: Saudi filmmaker Lina Malaika is developing a new survival thriller titled "Red Sea," with actress and producer Natasha Lyonne attached as a producer through her companies Animal Pictures and Ariadne.
Set against the dramatic backdrop of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coastline, the film follows a group of young friends whose luxury yacht getaway takes a deadly turn when a series of unforeseen events leaves them stranded far from land. As fear, isolation and suspicion begin to take hold, the group discovers they may not be alone in the water.
The screenplay is written by Heaven Howard and Brooke Schlegel. The project remains in development, with casting and financing currently underway, Deadline reported.
Malaika said the idea was inspired by her lifelong connection to the region. "Growing up by the Red Sea, I was always fascinated by its beauty, mythology, and depth. There is something both spiritual and terrifying about it at the same time," she said.
She added: "With Red Sea, we wanted to create a film that feels immersive, cinematic, and emotionally claustrophobic. It is a survival story, but it is also about fear, human instinct, and what happens when paradise becomes a trap."
A graduate of the New York Film Academy, Malaika made her mark with the short film "Moskoon," which premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival in 2021. She has also worked on the documentary "One Giant Leap," which chronicles the journey of Saudi Arabia's first female astronaut, and recently appeared in the Saudi horror feature "They Came for Us," currently in post-production.
Lyonne, meanwhile, continues to expand her producing portfolio. Her company Animal Pictures has been behind acclaimed series including "Russian Doll" and "Poker Face." Earlier this year, she launched Ariadne alongside Sean Lennon and Evan Ross, with its first project being the documentary series "Vitruvian Scumbag."
