LOS ANGELES (August 25, 2022) – Saban Films announced today that they have secured the U.S. and Canadian rights to AGC International and Image Nation Abu Dhabi’s The Ambush. The film, directed by Pierre Morel (Taken), was initially released in the UAE on November 2021 across 185 screens and is officially the highest-grossing Arabic-language film ever in the country. This marks the company’s first non-English language film acquisition. Saban Films is planning an October 28, 2022 theatrical release and November 1, 2022 on demand and on digital.
Starring an all-Emirati lead cast, including Omar Bin Haider, Marwan Abdulla Saleh, Mohammed Ahmed, Mansoor Alfeeli, and Khalifa Albahri, The Ambush follows the story of three UAE soldiers desperately awaiting salvation when their armored vehicle is attacked by heavy enemy gunfire and becomes trapped in a remote canyon. Their only hope is a daring rescue mission plotted by their courageous commander.
The Ambush (aka Al Kameen) was written by Brandon Birtell (Furious 7) and Kurtis Birtell (Medal of Honour) in close consultation with the soldiers involved in the real-life 2018 incident that inspired the plot. The film is produced by Derek Dauchy (Roman J Israel, Esq., Victor Frankenstein) and Jennifer Roth (Black Swan). Stuart Ford and Jérôme Lateur serve as Executive Producers. The deal was negotiated by Bill Bromiley for Saban Films and Stuart Ford on behalf of AGC Studios.
“As more and more embrace international content, we’re thrilled to bring Pierre Morel’s incredible film to a wider audience,” said Bill Bromiley, President, Saban Films. “As Saban’s first foreign language film, The Ambush, a story about unwavering resilience, will continue to inspire audiences around the world.”
Saban Films recently acquired: Jason Momoa’s The Last Manhunt; American Murderer starring Tom Pelphrey, Ryan Phillippe, Idina Menzel And Jacki Weaver; Ana Lily Amirpour’s Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon starring Kate Hudson and Jun Jong-Seo; Shane Dax Taylor’s action flick Best Man starring Dolph Lundgren and Luke Wilson; Brett Donowho’s western The Old Way starring Nicolas Cage; Adam Sigal’s reincarnation dark comedy Chariot with John Malkovich; and Butcher’s Crossing starring Nicolas Cage which will make its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival next month.