Saudi Arabia’s Neom Media Hub Partners With Hakawati Entertainment on Nine Picture Deal, Production Services Unit (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Saudi Arabia’s Neom Media production hub and the kingdom’s Hakawati Entertainment have forged a strategic partnership to produce up to nine feature films and establish a new on-site services unit “supported by experienced Hollywood-level talent and significant financial investments,” they said in a statement.

Neom, which is the site of Saudi’s futuristic city in the making, is clearly keen to attract more international productions such as $150 million tentpole “Desert Warrior,” featuring an all-star international cast led by “Captain America” star Anthony Mackie, that three years ago shot in the sprawling area located in Tabuk on the Red Sea coast.

Besides desert, Neom features heritage sites, mountains, coral reefs and has a generally cooler temperature than most of the region.

Hakawati Entertainment is a production and literary management company launched in 2020 by a team of Saudi entrepreneurs and industry experts.