Shahid explores Rise of the Witches in ‘biggest ever’ Saudi series

Ida Alkusay and Sumaya Rida in Rise of the Witches

MBC Group in Saudi Arabia’s streaming platform Shahid has commissioned Rise of the Witches, billed as the biggest TV series to ever be made in the country.

Produced by MBC Studios, Rise of the Witches is based on the Saudi mythology books by Osamah Almuslim and tells the story of an epic war between two rival witch covens in ancient Arabia.

The fantasy-adventure claims to be the biggest series to ever be produced with a homegrown Saudi cast and to hold the largest budget for special effects for a Saudi production. It will launch on Shahid later this year.

Declan O’Dwyer and Craig Pickles are directors, with production led by Dominic Barlow and MBC Group’s general manager Zeinab Abu Alsamh as exec producer.