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Desert Warrior 2025
Desert Warrior represents a 2025 historical action motion picture helmed by Rupert Wyatt, who collaborated on the screenplay with Erica Beeney and David Self. Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Sharlto Copley, and Ben Kingsley comprise the film's ensemble cast. The narrative follows an Arabian princess who partners with a bandit against a cruel emperor seeking to make the princess his concubine.
The production carried a $150 million budget, establishing Desert Warrior as Saudi Arabia's most costly cinematic endeavor. This initiative aimed to rejuvenate the Saudi film sector, providing training opportunities for local crew members. Principal photography occurred between September 2021 and February 2022. Extended post-production work, involving creative disputes with Wyatt, resulted in release delays.
The Zurich Film Festival hosted Desert Warrior's debut on September 28, 2025, followed by a theatrical US release through Vertical on April 24, 2026. Critics delivered predominantly unfavorable assessments of the film.
Cast
- Anthony MackieHanzala
- Aiysha HartPrincess Hind
- Sharlto CopleyJalabzeen
- Ghassan MassoudKing Numan
- Sami BouajilaHani
- Lamis AmmarMedicine Woman
- Géza RöhrigAl Hamerz
- Ben KingsleyEmperor Kisra
- Numan AcarEbn Wael
- Ramsey FaragallahIbn Qabisah
Crew
- Director
- Rupert Wyatt
- Screenplay
- David Self, Rupert Wyatt, Project Greenlight
- Story
- David Self
- Producer
- Jeremy Bolt
- Cinematography
- Guillermo Garza
- Editing
- Richard Mettler
- Music
- The Dø
Details
- Production
- AGC Television, JB Pictures, MBC Studios, Studio Mechanical
- Distributor
- Empire Entertainment (Saudi Arabia), Vertical
- Budget
- $150 million
- Box office
- $759,228
