عمر الشريف «الابن» يعود للشاشة بفيلم يكسر القوالب الهوليوودية

Artist Omar Sharif (the son) joins the cast of a new romantic comedy film titled (Crazy Rich Arabs), in a move that aims to present Arab characters in a different light, away from the traditional molds and stereotypes often seen in some Hollywood productions.

The filming is set to commence next week in Los Angeles, USA, featuring a group of actors including Wissam Asghari, Aaron Kader, and Walid Shaya, alongside Kourosh Barsabour, Lara Jay Barry, Sarah Sayadat, and George Khoury, as well as new faces Sofia Konat and Maya Tannous.

The film is directed by Peter Takla, with the screenplay co-written by Walid Shaya and Jimmy Monach, and both Shaya and Omar Sharif (the son) are involved in the film's executive production.

The story revolves around (Youssef); a conservative musician from Beirut who travels to Los Angeles with the aim of marrying (Rima), but he faces unexpected challenges in trying to win the approval of her overprotective brother. The events take a turn when Youssef discovers the existence of his long-lost twin brother, a wealthy divorce lawyer living in Hollywood, leading to a series of comedic twists after the brothers swap identities.

As the comedic and romantic situations escalate, family secrets intertwine with cultural differences, while other characters become involved in the unfolding events, including (Leila), the owner of a lounge in Beverly Hills, and (Shay), portrayed by Omar Sharif (the son), who works in renting out apartments through an app.

Walid Shaya emphasized that the film seeks to provide a different portrayal of Arab characters and those from the Middle East and North Africa, by giving them leading roles within a romantic comedy, rather than confining them to the traditional images commonly associated with them.

He added that the work focuses on highlighting Arab culture with a cheerful and human spirit, presenting a story that addresses love, family, and the search for the true meaning of success and happiness, away from the stereotypes that have long been linked to these characters on screen.