Following the opening of the film studios in NEOM in 2022, and the recognising of AlUla at the Global Production Awards in Cannes in 2024, the Kingdom has already gained popularity amongst creatives in the international sphere, and Saudi has cemented its status a top-notch hub for Hollywood blockbusters.
And this week, at the Red Sea International Film Festival 2025, Emmy Award-winning director and cinematographer Alik Sakharov — who is currently leading the production of an ambitious historical feature film under the working title Unbroken Sword — will produce the first major international production to be filmed at the newly opened PlayMaker Studios in Qiddiya City.
Already the guy behind internationally acclaimed and binge-worthy productions such as Game of Thrones, Ozark, Law & Order, The Witcher, and The Sopranos, the expectations for this new film are high. Already in pre-production phase, Unbroken Sword will be the first film to be shot at PlayMaker Studios, a large new filming complex in Qiddiya City.
About Unbroken Sword
Unbroken Sword takes place in 7th-century Arabia and focuses on a renowned Arab leader who guides a small, outmatched Muslim force through harsh deserts into fierce battles against the Persian and Roman empires. The film is set to explore the theme of courage and delve into raw personal narratives that shaped crucial moments in the region during that period of time. Film buffs can expect top-notch vast landscapes, thrilling action, and a character-driven perspective that could raise Arab historical cinema to a whole new standard.
Although the cast has not been revealed yet, production is already ramping up for early 2026, with over 200 crew members already present on site. Most of the shooting will capture the stunning desert landscapes near Qiddiya.
Unbroken Sword will launch Qiddiya City's PlayMaker Studios, and notable it will be a film that is both rooted in Arab history and aimed at a global audience. The Kingdom will develop, shoot, and finish large-scale stories right at Qiddiya, and share them with the world. When cameras start rolling in 2026, the film will lead the way — just the first chapter in the ever evolving era for Saudi filmmaking.
Discover PlayMaker Studios
Supporting all of this is PlayMaker Studios, a newly opened and cutting-edge production centre in Saudi Arabia's growing entertainment hub, Qiddiya City. The area covers 50 acres and includes various facilities, ranging from sound stages and backlots to offices and workshops. It’s designed to manage both personal dramas and large-scale epics, facilitating a smoother production process for all participants.
In the coming years, PlayMaker Studios will introduce additional facilities for creatives and production houses — music studios, visual effects stages, post-production suites, and advanced technology such as volumetric capture. Qiddiya City will establish itself as another comprehensive creative environment in the Kingdom.
These steps align with Qiddiya City’s vision to become a pivotal destination for top of the range production set ups and for global entertainment as a whole; Qiddiya will be home to the futuristic Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, the soon-to-open Six Flags Qiddiya theme park and a Formula One-grade racetrack.
