MBC Studios has unveiled a new slate of Saudi film and television productions during the 79th Cannes Film Festival, with Jahim Al-Abireen, also known as Traveller’s Hell or Hell of the Transients, among the key titles moving toward theatrical release.
The announcement includes a mix of completed productions, projects preparing to enter production and titles currently in development, as MBC Studios expands its investment in Saudi storytelling and regional content creation. MBC Studios is the production arm of MBC Group, one of the largest media companies in the Middle East.
The project is not a fresh announcement. MBC Studios first revealed its partnership with bestselling Saudi author Osamah Almuslim during the 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival, when it announced plans to adapt his horror novel Traveller’s Hell into a feature film. The Cannes update now confirms that the film has completed production and is scheduled for theatrical release in 2026.
Traveller’s Hell follows a young woman who picks up a stranded motorist on a mountain road, only for the act of kindness to turn into a nightmare. The film is based on Almuslim’s horror novel, with the author earlier reported to be adapting the screenplay himself. It also marks the feature directorial debut of Saudi filmmaker Hana Al-Omair.
Al-Omair previously co-wrote and directed Whispers, Saudi Arabia’s first Netflix original miniseries. She joined MBC Studios as creative director in 2024 and has also been attached to direct the historical feature Dancing on Fire. Her move from streaming to a theatrical horror feature makes Traveller’s Hell one of the key Saudi titles in MBC Studios’ current lineup.
The Cannes slate also shows that MBC Studios’ partnership with Almuslim is expanding beyond one film. The studio is moving ahead with a feature adaptation of Spider’s Web, with production expected to begin in late 2026. The story follows a group of Saudi female students in Riyadh who suspect their neighbour is hiding a dark secret.
Speaking about the growing screen adaptations of his work, Almuslim said he was pleased that more of his fiction works are moving forward as productions for audiences across the Arab world. He also said the projects have received strong production support from MBC Studios to meet the expectations of both readers and viewers.
Beyond Almuslim’s adaptations, MBC Studios also announced original projects including an action-comedy listed in reports as Mavius or Mafiosos, about two Saudi brothers who become involved with the Italian mafia during a business trip to Italy. The film is written by Saudi writers Nawaf Al-Muhanna and Hazem Al-Jaryan.
Another title in development is Forever, a romantic drama written by Saudi actress and screenwriter Sarah Taibah, known for Jameel Jiddan and Nemra Etnein. MBC Studios also confirmed plans to produce its first joint feature film with Saudi production company Telfaz11 by the end of the year. The partnership was first announced during the 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival.
Telfaz11 is known for Saudi titles including Alzarfa, Sattar and Mandoob. Its collaboration with MBC Studios points to a growing push for local partnerships within the Saudi production ecosystem.
The update comes as Saudi Arabia continues to build its film and television ecosystem through local stories, production incentives and regional distribution. It also fits into the wider debate around Saudi Arabia’s film dream after Desert Warrior, especially as the Kingdom tries to balance big ambition with stronger local storytelling. MBC Studios’ slate feels relevant to that shift because it is built around Saudi authors, Saudi writers, Saudi filmmakers and local production partnerships.
The slate also arrives as the Kingdom continues to promote its production sector through Saudi Arabia’s 60% film production rebate, which is aimed at attracting more film and TV projects to Saudi Arabia.
With Traveller’s Hell now completed and more Almuslim adaptations moving forward, MBC Studios is placing Saudi IP at the centre of its next phase. The film’s release will be watched closely as the studio tests how locally rooted horror and fantasy stories can perform across the MENA region.
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