Saudi Arabia is making cinematic history with “Unbroken Sword,” an epic film about legendary Islamic military commander Khalid ibn Al-Walid, to be directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Alik Sakharov, renowned for his work on Game of Thrones, House of Cards, and Ozark. The production will officially kick off activity at PlayMaker Studios in Qiddiya City, the entertainment and tourism mega-project outside of Riyadh.
The ambitious project tells the story of Khalid ibn Al-Walid, known as Saifullah (The Sword of God), one of the greatest military commanders in history, who was renowned for his strategic brilliance and an undefeated record, particularly his victory at the Battle of Yarmouk, which helped reshape the geopolitics of the region.
Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Turki Al Sheikh revealed that Sakharov knew little about Khalid ibn Al-Walid when they first met 18 months ago, but became deeply captivated by the story after extensive research. The director has since relocated from New York and spent six months living on-site to oversee the project.
Principal photography is scheduled to begin in early 2026, employing more than two hundred crew members who will use the studios’ cutting-edge soundstages as well as Qiddiya City’s dramatic backdrop of the Tuwaiq Mountains. The production features over 1,000 handcrafted swords and more than 3,000 planted trees to recreate authentic historical landscapes.
PlayMaker Studios spans over 50 acres with state-of-the-art facilities, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a major film hub in the MENA region. The film is being hailed as Saudi Arabia’s largest and most technically advanced film in history, with a global theatrical release planned for 2027, marking a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s growing entertainment industry.
