EXCLUSIVE: Indie rom-com movie Crazy Rich Arabs (no relation to WB’s Crazy Rich Asians franchise) kicks off in LA next week with cast led by Omar Sharif Jr. (The Secret Scripture), Sam Asghari (Hacks), Aron Kader (Ramy), and Walid Chaya (The Blacklist: Redemption).
The ensemble also features Kourosh Parsapour (In the Garden of Tulips), Lara J Barry (Where Murder Lies), Sarah Siadat (Veep), George Khouri (Funny or Die), and newcomers Sophia Konat and Maya Tannous.
Directed by Peter Takla and co-written by Chaya and Jimmy Monack, with Chaya and Sharif Jr. serving as executive producers, the story “follows Youssef (Walid Chaya), a sheltered musician from Beirut who travels to Los Angeles for an arranged marriage with Reema (Sophia Konat), whose protective brother (George Khouri) isn’t easily impressed. His plans take an unexpected turn when he discovers Omar (also played by Chaya), his long-lost identical twin and a wealthy Hollywood divorce attorney. When the brothers switch identities, romance, family secrets, and cultural clashes spiral into chaos, drawing in Omar’s best friend Layla (Maya Tannous), a Beverly Hills lounge owner, and charming Airbnb host Shay (Omar Sharif Jr.).”
Original music and soundtrack will come from Rawan Chaya. Chaya’s Moonlit Wings Productions produces.
According to Chaya, the production aims to challenge “Hollywood’s longstanding underrepresentation of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) characters, particularly in leading roles”: “By placing Arab-American characters at the center of a glamorous, heartfelt comedy, the film offers a perspective rarely seen in mainstream romantic storytelling.”
He continued: “Growing up, I rarely saw people who looked like me represented on screen, especially in stories that celebrated our culture rather than reinforced stereotypes. With Crazy Rich Arabs, we’re changing that—bringing Arab characters to the forefront through humor, heart, and a universal story about love, family, and what it really means to live a rich life.”