Crazy Rich Arabs: The Hollywood Rom-Com With a Beirut Hero

Hollywood’s newest rom-com has a hero from Beirut. Crazy Rich Arabs starts filming in Los Angeles next week, and no, it’s not related to the 2018 hit Crazy Rich Asians.

The Plot

Youssef is a shy musician from Beirut who travels to LA for an arranged marriage with Reema. Her brother is not impressed with him. Once in LA, Youssef finds out he has a long-lost identical twin, Omar, a rich Hollywood-based divorce lawyer. The two switch places, and things get messy: romance, family secrets, and (what we hope is not stereotypical) culture clash.

The Cast

Walid Chaya plays both twins. The cast also includes Omar Sharif Jr., grandson of the late Egyptian star Omar Sharif, and Sam Asghari, Britney Spears’ ex-husband.

Sharif Jr. plays Shay, an Airbnb host. Newcomer Sophia Konat plays Reema, George Khouri plays her brother, and newcomer Maya Tannous plays Layla, Omar’s best friend who owns a lounge in Beverly Hills.

Behind the Film

Chaya co-wrote the film with Jimmy Monack and is producing it with Sharif Jr. through his company, Moonlit Wings Productions. Peter Takla is directing, and Rawan Chaya is doing the music.

Chaya, who is also CEO of Broadway in Beirut, has said he rarely saw people like him on screen growing up. He wants the film to show Arab characters in a story about love, family and comedy, without the usual stereotypes.

We can’t wait to watch!

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