Award-winning Director Alik Sakharov and acclaimed Hollywood Producer Richard Sharkey to collaborate
in the Middle East’s largest-ever English Language film 

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2nd December 2026: H.E. Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the  General Entertainment Authority (GEA), visited the pre-production offices of the  historical action-drama Unbroken Sword (working title), the biggest film production  ever made in the Middle East and the region’s most ambitious English-language  feature to date.  

The visit marks a major milestone for Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding screen sector as  the film advances through pre-production in AlQiddiya, the Kingdom’s next-generation  entertainment city. 

Set in 7th-century Arabia, ‘Unbroken Sword’ follows a feared warrior torn between  legacy and truth as he leads an outnumbered Muslim army across an uncharted desert  to confront the empires of Rome and Persia. Through unmatched strategy and a  profound spiritual awakening, the brilliant general Khalid ibn al-Walid rises to become  one of history’s most formidable military minds. Yet as he wins battles against rival  empires, he faces a deeper reckoning with his identity, destiny, and the cost of  becoming the Unbroken Sword. 

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Alik Sakharov, whose international credits include  Game of Thrones, House of Cards, Ozark, and Marco Polo, ‘Unbroken Sword’ is  produced by Sela and proudly sponsored by GEA and Riyadh Season. 

During the visit, H.E. Turki Alalshikh toured departments across the production, met  with key creative leads, and reviewed the early world-building work being developed  for the film, including concept art, set builds, and action choreography plans.

Veteran Hollywood producer Richard Sharkey, known for House of the Dragon, Marco  Polo, The Fifth Estate, and The Lord of the Rings franchise, welcomed the Chairman  and briefed him on the film’s scale, international crew, and global release ambitions. 

Unbroken Sword is set to bring together a global cast and crew in Saudi Arabia,  establishing new benchmarks for production value, technical craftsmanship, and  cinematic ambition in the region.

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