Saudi Giant MBC Unveils ‘Rise of the Witches,’ “Biggest TV Series” to Be Made in Country

The 10-part fantasy adventure is now shooting at Neom, set to be home to Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman much-hyped $500 billion megacity.

MBC Studios, the production arm of the Saudi-owned free-to-air satellite network giant MBC, has unveiled what it claims to be the “biggest TV series” ever to be shot in the country.

Rise of the Witches, a 10-part fantasy-adventure series based on the bestselling books by Saudi author Osamah Al Muslim, is now in production at Neom, the name of the coastal area in the north east of the country due to be home to a much-hyped $500 billion megacity, using three purpose-built studio sets, including Saudi Arabia’s biggest purpose built backlot. MBC Studios recently shot the feature Desert Warrior — starring Anthony Mackie and understood to be the most expensive film made in Saudi Arabia — at Neom, one of two major Hollywood titles it’s producing alongside the Gerard Butler action-thriller Kandahar.

According to MBC, the series is the biggest series ever produced with a homegrown Saudi cast, and also has the largest ever budget for special effects for a Saudi production. No financial details were revealed.