MBC Studios Ramps Up TV Production With Saudi Series ‘Rise of The Witches,’ ‘Devil’s Promise,’ ‘1001 Nights’ (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentDubai-based broadcaster and streamer MBC is ramping up production with several new high-end shows.These include “Rise of The Witches,” being touted as the biggest-budget Saudi Arabian TV series to date, “The Devil’s Promise,” created by U.K.

writer Tony Jordan, and crime thriller “1001 Nights.”MBC Group CEO Sam Barnett in an interview said MBC Studios now has 65 projects in various stages and reiterated the the Saudi-owned company is committed to serve as a driver to help kickstart the kingdom’s nascent industry.“Rise of The Witches” (first look image, above) is based on a Saudi novel described by Barnett as “a fantasy novel set 1,500 years ago in a time of witches” with a strong female empowerment theme.

The storyline of the show, written by British actor and writer Charlie Higson (the “Young Bond” novel series), who worked in tandem with two female Saudi writers on “Witches,” tracks the rise of two witches’ covens that ultimately go to war with each other.Emmy-nominated Irish director Declan O’Dweyer (“Free Rein”) and the U.K.’s Craig Pickles (“London Kills”) are directing the “Witches” series, with Dominic Barlow (“The Last Kingdom”) serving as show runner and producer along with MBC Studios chief Rasha AlEmam.Shooting on “Witches” started in January in NEOM, a sprawling area in the northwest along Saudi’s Red Sea coast with ambitions to become a major industry hub where $100 million seventh century actioner “Desert Warrior,” featuring an all-star international cast led by “Captain America” star Anthony Mackie, was recently shot.

The plan is for “Witches,” which features an all-Saudi cast of more than 100 actors, to remain in production in NEOM through December.— “The Devil’s.