The unveiling of the project took place in a panel discussion, covering various facets of intellectual property development at the Red Sea International Film Festival.
MBC Studios, the production arm of MBC Group, has set its sights on developing a series adaptation of Saudi writer Osamah Almuslim’s bestselling debut horror novel, Khawf (Fear). This marks the second collaboration between MBC Studios and Almuslim, following the successful adaptation of his fantasy novel, Rise Of The Witches, according to a report by Deadline.
The adaptation of Rise Of The Witches, described as Saudi Arabia’s most significant adventure-fantasy series to date, was a collaborative effort led by UK writer and actor Charlie Higson, alongside Saudi co-writers Nora Aboushousha and Sara Al Ghabra. Filmed in Saudi Arabia’s emerging shooting hub Neom in 2022, the series is currently in post-production.
Khawf delves into the narrative of a studious young man who receives a mysterious book from a cryptic sheikh, unravelling a chilling sequence of events that lead to the exploration of an alternate world. Zeinab Abu Alsamh, the General Manager of MBC Studios in Saudi Arabia, unveiled the project during an industry panel at the Red Sea International Film Festival, shedding light on the early stages of development. A team of local and MENA region Arabic-speaking writers is currently crafting the draft script.
Abu Alsamh told Deadline that the development of Khawf is in progress, emphasising MBC Studios’ commitment to exploring diverse intellectual properties.
MBC Studios, recognised for adapting Ibraheem Abbas’s fantasy work HWJN in collaboration with Abu Dhabi-based Image Nation and Vox Cinemas, continues to diversify its portfolio.
