MTV’s Biopic About Rafic Hariri Shut Down—Again

The premiere of Rafic on MTV Lebanon, a 30-episode series about the life of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, was abruptly halted following after a court order filed by his widow, Nazek Hariri. Here’s what happened.

This Show has Been Ready for Nearly 10 Years

Written by Choukri Anis Fakhoury and directed by Nadim Mehanna, Rafic was originally filmed nearly a decade ago. The series focuses on Hariri’s political career and legacy, steering clear of his personal life, but that still wasn’t enough to get the green light.

^{Actors Alaa Alaaeddine and Diana Fakhoury on the set of “Rafic”.}

Nazek Hariri has reportedly opposed the series from the start. Back in 2015, she allegedly objected to the casting of Diana Fakhoury in a role inspired by her, arguing there were more “appropriate” actresses. But the resistance seemed to go beyond casting, it was about the entire project.

MTV’s Response

Having planned to air the series this week, MTV expressed disappointment over the court’s decision to block the show. The channel argued that the ruling does a disservice to Rafic Hariri’s legacy.

In a statement, MTV said the series was produced with respect and based on verified information from people close to Hariri, including the support of his son, Saad Hariri.

They added: “The life of a man who gave everything to his country isn’t private property. His story belongs to the Lebanese people.”

So…Will We Ever See It?

As of now, production company NMPRO says the show is on pause once again. Whether or not it will ever make it to screens remains up in the air.

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