Director Simon West has announced that he plans to direct a film about the famous pre-Islamic Bedouin warrior Antara Ibn Shaddad, in the Bajdah studios in Saudi Arabia.
"The life of Antara is one of those relatively unknown true stories that prove that fact can be stranger than fiction. The opportunity to shoot in the homeland of the Banu Abs tribe means that we will remain true to the work while contributing to the development of the emerging film industry in the region. It's a project I'm delighted to be a part of and I look forward to creating something unique for a global audience." - Simon West.
Antara, or Antar, is one of the region's most renowned Arab poets and knights. His love for his cousin Ablah is as famous as his chivalrous exploits, since the hero embarked on an epic journey, in the manner of Ulysses, to conquer his beloved, whose hand he was refused because of his origins.
Photo: A 10th-century Syrian painting on glass depicts Antara. Copyrights Getty Images / The National.