logo
First Arabic Imax Film ‘Ambulance' Set for Sequel, With Ibrahim Al Hajjaj Returning (EXCLUSIVE)

First Arabic Imax Film ‘Ambulance' Set for Sequel, With Ibrahim Al Hajjaj Returning (EXCLUSIVE)

Yahoo07-05-2025

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
Popular Saudi Arabian actor and stand-up comic Ibrahim Al Hajjaj's new comedy 'Esaaf' ('Ambulance') directed by British helmer Colin Teague ('Doctor Who,' 'Torchwood'), is already set for a sequel with the same creative team.
'Ambulance' opened on Tuesday, becoming Imax's first Arabic feature film release. It marks Al Hajjaj's follow-up to 2023 wrestling movie 'Sattar,' which pulled more than $30 million, mostly from local markets. It is considered the highest-grossing Saudi film since the 35-year ban on the operation of commercial movie theaters was revoked in December 2017.
More from Variety
The new Al Hajjaj film is a screwball comedy, following two feuding Saudi paramedics who stumble upon a briefcase containing Saudi Arabian Riyal 2 million ($533,300) and become unwittingly entangled in a high-stakes kidnapping and ransom plot.
'Ambulance' is written by Alberto Lopez ('Rupture') and produced by Al Hajjaj's House of Comedy, Saudi producer Talal Anazi's Black Light Operations and former MBC Studios chief Peter Smith in tandem with Saudi Media Company. The innovative picture premiered on April 15 at Muvi Cinemas' Imax at U Walk in downtown Riyadh to a full house comprising press, Arab celebrities and industry insiders.
'Ambulance' will also be having its festival premiere in competition at the upcoming Saudi Film Festival, which is the oldest-running film event in the kingdom, and is set for wider distribution across the Gulf region and the Middle East in coming weeks.
Lopez said he is currently writing the 'Ambulance' sequel, which will be produced by Black Light and House of Comedy with tentative plans to shoot in October and release the film in Saudi in April 2026.
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Who was Stockton Rush? OceanGate CEO focus of Titan implosion documentary
Who was Stockton Rush? OceanGate CEO focus of Titan implosion documentary

USA Today

time10 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Who was Stockton Rush? OceanGate CEO focus of Titan implosion documentary

Who was Stockton Rush? OceanGate CEO focus of Titan implosion documentary Show Caption Hide Caption Newly released footage captures sound of Titan submersible imploding Newly released video appeared to capture the sound of the Titan submersible imploding on its way to visit the Titanic wreck in June 2023. Netflix released "Titan: The OceanGate Disaster" on June 11, a week before the two-year anniversary of the 2023 implosion that killed five people on a voyage to view the wreckage of the Titanic. The documentary focuses on the role of OceanGate CEO Stockon Rush and his role as CEO of OceanGate "his quest to become the next billionaire innovator," according to the documentary's synopsis. "'Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster' makes a belabored point that OceanGate's failings leading to the implosion stemmed from Rush's leadership," Eric Francisco of Esquire wrote. "His short temper and arrogance permeated in all his efforts to build a business around deep-sea commercial tourism." There were five people aboard the submersible on June 18, 2023 and were killed in the implosion: Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, French maritime and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and a father and son from one of Pakistan's most prominent families, Shahzada Dawood and Suleman Dawood. A series of hearings were held in 2024 as part of the investigation, and a lawsuit has been filed by the family of Nargeolet, claiming all five passengers probably experienced "terror and anguish" in their final moments. The hearings revealed one of the final messages sent from the crew before it was crushed by the pressure of the ocean: "All good here." Here's what you need to know about Stockton Rush. Who was Stockton Rush? Rush, 61, was a member of a prominent family in San Francisco and a descendant of two signers of the Declaration of Independence, SF Gate reported at the time of the implosion. The outlet reported that he was working as an aerospace engineer for McDonnell Douglas when he married his wife Wendy in 1986. Rush co-founded the company in 2009 and oversaw OceanGate's financial and engineering strategies, company's website said before being taken down in the wake of the implosion, USA TODAY previously reported. Titan danger: Titanic sub took on extreme danger, while 'breaking the rules' "We have heard the baseless cries of 'you are going to kill someone' way too often," Rush wrote in 2018 – according to The Conversation – after being told he was putting lives at risk using his experimental submersible. "I take this as a serious personal insult." In an interview with CBS News Unsung Science, he talked about his dreams of being an explorer − "I wanted to be sort of the Captain Kirk" − and fears about going underwater. "What I worry about most are things that will stop me from being able to get to the surface," he said. Still, he insisted on the safety of submersibles and the value of taking risks. "I mean, if you just want to be safe, don't get out of bed," he said. What happened to Titan? The submersible imploded about 1 hour and 45 minutes after its trip began, resulting in the deaths of its five passengers. Two weeks after the incident, OceanGate said on its website it had suspended "all exploration and commercial operations." Its headquarters in Everett, Washington, were shuttered. Its business license expired on June 7, 2024, according to Washington Department of Revenue records. The nonprofit research wing of the company, called OceanGate Foundation, was launched in 2010 but also closed in 2023, according to department records. OceanGate Inc. also operated a subsidiary, OceanGate Expeditions, out of the same office. According to Washington records, it closed on March 31, 2021. The U.S. Coast Guard continues to investigate what caused the implosion. Contributing: Elizabeth Weise, Isabella Butera, Phaedra Tepham – USA TODAY

Man arrested and charged after storming the stage at a Katy Perry concert
Man arrested and charged after storming the stage at a Katy Perry concert

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Man arrested and charged after storming the stage at a Katy Perry concert

A man has been arrested and charged after storming the stage at a Katy Perry concert. The American singer, 40, was perfroming at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney as part of her The Lifetimes World Tour on Monday when the incident occured. Footage circulated online captured the moment that Johnson Wen – known online as Pyjama Man – crashed her rendition of 2008 hit, Hot N Cold. Wen could be seen running up to her and grabbing her shoulder, while excitedly jumping up and down, before he was then escorted off stage. For her part Perry - who is engaged to 48-year-old British actor Orlando Bloom - looked furious. She then told the confused crowd: 'Well, there's never going to be another show like this, so just enjoy it, Sydney.' Adding: 'What the hell is going on?' According to 9News, he was arrested after the incident, and taken to Auburn Police Station. Wen was eventually charged with entering enclosed lands, as well as obstructing a person in the performance of their work or duty. After being granted conditional bail, he was issued with a six-month ban from entering the Sydney Olympic Park Precinct, and is due to appear at Burwood Local Court on June 23. Speaking to the Australian news outlet afterwards, Wen claimed his stage invasion had been for fun and went on to recall how Perry had 'freaked out' when she saw him. 'I said, 'Let me get on stage with you', then she freaked out because she realised I wasn't a performer,' he explained. 'I was about to do like extra Fortnite moves but security got there too quick.' This isn't the first time that Wen has done something like this. He was previously banned from the Olympic Park for crashing the Weeknd's concert, and also invaded arenas at the Olympics, the Women's World Cup and the Cricket World Cup final. Wen has now vowed to mend his ways, adding: 'I'm planning to quit forever because you get in way too much trouble for it. Especially me, because I've done it so many times.'

Kate Middleton Stands By Prince William As Harry's Actions Leave 'Deep' Wounds, Royal Expert Says
Kate Middleton Stands By Prince William As Harry's Actions Leave 'Deep' Wounds, Royal Expert Says

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Kate Middleton Stands By Prince William As Harry's Actions Leave 'Deep' Wounds, Royal Expert Says

Kate Middleton reportedly has no plans to reconcile with Prince Harry, as she chooses to stand by her husband, Prince William, amid ongoing tensions. Kate and Harry once shared a close bond, but their relationship soured after the duke and his wife, Meghan Markle's public criticisms of the royal family. Kate Middleton was reportedly heartbroken by the fallout with Prince Harry and the duchess, especially as she battled health challenges. Kate reportedly has no intention of initiating any reconciliation with Harry, choosing instead to remain firmly aligned with William. According to Us Weekly, the Prince and Princess of Wales are increasingly frustrated and "just don't understand why Harry doesn't stay quiet" after the royal exit. However, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield shared a different perspective with Fox News Digital, suggesting William's hurt stems from his desire to shield his wife from Harry's actions. "Catherine has been nothing but supportive of her husband – and that's exactly why Prince William is so deeply hurt," Schofield noted. He continued, "His pain doesn't come from personal insults or headlines. It comes from his instinct to protect the woman he loves… But what cuts the deepest is Harry's treatment of Catherine. She's always loved him, always treated him like a little brother. That's the betrayal William won't forget… But Harry never seems to think about the consequences." Meanwhile, British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told the publication that Kate has been quietly heartbroken over the ongoing rift between William and Harry, but has no plans to enter the drama. "Catherine and Harry shared a fun humor and were often seen giggling together at events," Chard shared. She continued, "Sadly and upsettingly, Princess Catherine was dragged into the public negative narrative, which was a real smack around the face for the kind of sister-in-law who tried hard to be the peacemaker between the brothers." The tension that has grown since Harry and Meghan departed from royal life further deepened following Harry's explosive memoir "Spare" and Meghan's 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, during which she claimed Kate made her cry ahead of the royal wedding. According to a source cited by Us Weekly, Kate was deeply affected by the accusation. "The reframing of events upset her, and making up a narrative that Kate is mean was devastating," the source claimed. "She can't retaliate, and Meghan knows that." Chard told Fox News Digital that while Kate and Meghan never had much in common, the Princess of Wales was genuinely pleased when Harry found love. "Princess Catherine was happy when Prince Harry met Meghan," Chard noted. "She was thrilled that Prince Harry seemed genuinely happy… The three musketeers became the 'Fab Four'… Princess Catherine [silently] cannot understand why Prince Harry still won't bite his tongue and continues his destructive path." But that harmony didn't last. Chard explained that Kate entered "protection mode" as the "Sussexes aired more and more allegations, grievances, and untruths against members of the British royal family." "Her goals have been protecting the crown, future-proofing the monarchy, [honoring] the late Queen Elizabeth II's legacy, and protecting her children from Prince Harry's hurtful commentary," Chard added. After years of trying to bridge the gap, Kate has now also stepped back from "any role of attempting to mediate a reconciliation" between the brothers, royal expert Fordwich explained. "She and William are now totally at one regarding hypocritical Harry. She's far more focused on her health and family. She's rather hurt," Fordwich stated. In his memoir "Spare," Harry paints an affectionate picture of his early relationship with Kate. He described the princess as "a fantastic girl" and even joked about their dynamic, saying, "I'm really looking forward to getting her under my wing. She'll be taking me under her wing, probably." Harry recalled feeling genuinely close to Kate, writing: "I loved my new sister-in-law. I felt she was more sister than in-law, the sister I'd never had and always wanted, and I was pleased that she'd forever be standing by Willy's side. They made each other visibly happy, and therefore I was happy too." The duke wrote about their first meeting, noting that it left a lasting impression on him. He remembered her as "carefree, sweet, and kind," noting her love for photography, art, and fashion. "She'd done a gap year in Florence," he wrote. "She loved clothes… I liked seeing Kate laugh. Better yet, I liked making her laugh. And I was quite good at it." Unfortunately, as things stand, it is unlikely Harry and Kate's relationship would ever return to the way it once was.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store