A STARZPLAY Original, produced by Katara Studios, that will attract and mesmerise science-fiction enthusiasts with a stellar cast of Arab and Western actors.
STARZPLAY, one of the leading video-on-demand subscription (SVOD) services in the region, is launching its new, bilingual original series “Medinah”, which is set to make its debut on the platform starting October 19th. Featuring a diverse international cast hailing from the Middle East and North America, “Medinah” stars Eric Roberts, Rick Ravanello and Natasha Henstridge from Hollywood, who are joined by Rahma Riad, Hana Chamoun, Eyad Hourani, Mohammed Al Hamadi, and more familiar faces from Qatar, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine.
This mind-bending series partly set in a near-future Qatar, begins after a rocket, designed to disperse thousands of metric tons of sulphur dioxide into Earth’s stratosphere to offset the greenhouse effect that has caused the global warming crisis, inexplicably fails and crashes. In the subsequent aftermath, we are introduced to an international cast of survivors – both human, and “human-like”. As they face monsters, nightmares, parallel realities and their own personal demons, these heroes must decide what is most important: Survival? Legacy? Love?
This first Qatari production which is led by Katara Studios, a full-service film and television production company based in Doha, and also the creative team renowned for their work on The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Opening & Closing Ceremonies. Consisting of 7 episodes, the series will be released on a weekly basis. With over 700 hours dedicated to post-production, spotlighting remarkable CGI and VFX visual effects, “Medinah” brings together a trio of talented directors: Ahmed Al Baker, Wayne Rose (Battlestar Galactica, Smallville) and Jason Bourque (The Chronicle Mysteries, My Christmas Family Tree).
Commenting on the release of “Medinah”, Maaz Sheikh, Co-Founder & CEO of STARZPLAY, said: ‘”Medinah” not only offers a unique narrative experience but also showcases the rich cultural tapestry of the region, drawing inspiration from Arabian mythologies. We believe this series will resonate with audiences far and wide. As STARZPLAY continues to invest in original content like “Medinah”, our aim is to solidify our position as a leading multi-faceted entertainment hub that helps to foster and develop Arabic talent and storytelling.`
The creator and showrunner of “Medinah”, Ahmed Al Baker added: “Speaking for the entire team, I am proud of the ground-breaking work that we accomplished on “Medinah”, and we could not hope for a better home than STARZPLAY. We are proud to be a part of the new generation of creatives and filmmakers who are bringing exciting and authentic stories that will have resonance in the region – and beyond!”
With thousands of hours of premium content including the best western content, Arabic shows, Turkish favourites, anime, and live sports, STARZPLAY is fast solidifying its position as a leading multi-faceted entertainment hub. The service is available in 19 countries across the MENA for fans to enjoy quality content anytime, anywhere, and from any device.