EXCLUSIVE: Colin Teague is signed on to direct Esaaf (working title), a debut Saudi Arabian comedy feature from local star Ibrahim Al Hajjaj and former MBC Studios boss Peter Smith.
The film, which is currently shooting on location, follows two incompetent paramedics completely out of their depth, who unwittingly become embroiled in a kidnapping plot. It marks the debut film of Al Hajjaj’s House of Comedy and Talal Anazi’s Black Light operations. The two companies will jointly own the rights, with Smith onboard as an executive producer.
BAFTA nominee Teague is no stranger to Saudi production, having directed the Tony Jordan-penned MBC Studios series Rashash and another big-budget Jordan drama, The Devil’s Promise two years ago. He’s known as the first person to direct episodes of Doctor Who and spin-off Torchwood and has credits for The White Queen, Being Human and Da Vinci’s Demons.
Smith, meanwhile, who exited MBC Studios in 2022, has a production alliance with House of Comedy and Black Light, which have been set up to push into comedy feature films in Saudi. Esaaf (English title Ambulance) is their debut film.
Alberto Lopez developed the project with House of Comedy and wrote the script. The British screenwriter penned Mubi’s 2021 Billy Zane-starrer Rupture, which was produced out of Saudi and directed by Hamzah Jamjoom.
Al Hajjaj is best known for Sattar, a comedy set in the world of wrestling that had a record-breaking run art the Saudi box office in 2023. He is also a popular stand-up comedian, and initially set up House of Comedy to oversee his stage performances.
“As House of Comedy and Black Light embark on our inaugural production, we sought a concept that is modern, authentic and genuinely funny,” Al Hajjaj told Deadline. “Esaaf resonated with us from the early stages of development with Alberto Lopez, as it truly encompasses all these elements.”
Al Hajjaj, Smith and Anazi plan to release between one and two comedy films and series for the Saudi market each year, with the former saying this would “contribute significantly to the genre” in the Middle Eastern country.
“The success of my previous film, Sattar, which ranks as the highest-grossing film of all time in Saudi Arabia— surpassing international hits like The Batman, Joker,” and Despicable Me — demonstrates the growing appetite for comedy among Saudi audiences. We are fortunate to create content that resonates with our local viewers, presenting a unique opportunity to be part of this rapidly expanding market.”
Former NBCUniversal International President Smith told Deadline Esaaf is “a really funny Saudi Arabic comedy that will hopefully shake up the market,” adding: “It’s like a Bad Boys or Rush Hour at the fraction of the budget.”
Distribution plans are being finalized, but the makers are eyeing to release the film in April next year. “Here, the box office is still growing,” said Smith, talking to Deadline via WhatsApp while on location. “The market is growing and there is a real appetite for Arabic content. We’re hoping we created something that can go toe-to-toe with any other film in the market.”
Teague is represented by Independent Talent and Gersh.