A Saudi Arabian version of ‘The Office’ is in the works

Love Island's Iain Stirling is set to head to America narrate the US version of the hit ITV2 show.The Scottish comedian, 34, will be narrating the revamped American version of the show, which is set to be much steamier than previous seasons.The show is will air on the Peacock streaming service in the US, with the premiere taking place on Tuesday, 19 July, however he'll still continue to provide voiceovers for the UK version.There have been three previous seasons, first starting in 2019. Speaking in a statement, Jenny Groom, Executive Vice President for NBCUniversal's Entertainment Unscripted Content, said: “The moment the decision was made to bring an all-new version of Love Island to Peacock, we knew we had to get Iain on board.

Disney/Pixar’s Lightyear begins offshore rollout this week, but won’t be hitting cinemas in such Middle East markets as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. Nor will it go to theaters in Malaysia or Indonesia. Deadline understands the film has not received distribution certificates in these markets. As with other recent Hollywood films, the issue is believed to be related to LGBTQ content.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentPixar’s “Lightyear” will not be playing in Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E. and Kuwait, among other West Asia territories, due to the inclusion of a same sex kiss in the “Toy Story” spinoff.The scene, involving a new lesbian space ranger character named Alisha and her partner starting a family together and greeting each other with a kiss on the lips had been originally cut from the film by Disney.But it was reinstated when Pixar animators spoke out against Disney in an open letter obtained by Variety, saying that Disney had demanded cuts, censoring “overtly gay affection” and in protest against Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s handling of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

A documentary feature is in the works based on the 2020 Sports Illustrated story about alleged sexual abuse scandal at the Ohio State University that spanned three decades.

Avril Lavigne has released a deluxe edition of her debut album ‘Let Go’ to mark its 20th anniversary, including a new version of ‘Breakaway’.‘Breakaway’ was originally written by Lavigne for the record, but she ended up passing it along to Kelly Clarkson, whose 2004 version became a hit.Lavigne’s newly recorded rendition sees the singer return to her pop-punk roots, capturing the angsty teenage emotion of feeling out of place and wanting something bigger in life.It arrived alongside an accompanying video, with scrapbook-style images, animations and song lyrics scrawled across the screen. Clips from Lavigne’s ‘Let Go’ era also feature, including snippets from the ‘Losing Grip’ music video.

EXCLUSIVE: Freestyle Digital Media has acquired North American rights to a pair of coming-of-age dramas: writer-director Alana Waksman’s debut feature We Burn Like This, and writer-director Anna Matz’s first feature, Love You Anyway. The digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group plans to release both titles across internet and satellite platforms on June 28.

vs. defamation trial came to a close on June 1. At 3 p.m.

The Office is getting a Middle Eastern makeover as an Arabic version of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s hit comedy classic is reportedly in the works. While it has been nearly two decades since it ended in the UK, the new version is set to air in the Middle East later this year, following a deal between BBC Studios and local producer-broadcaster MBC.

Saudi Arabia is getting its own version of “The Office.”“Al Maktab,” the name of the Saudi Arabian version, will span 20 episodes. MBC Studios is producing the show, after making a deal with BBC Studios, which licenses the franchise.The new version, which begins production in June, is set at a courier company.It will star Saleh Abuamrh, who will play the boss – Malik Al-Tuwaifi.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentBBC Studios and Dubai-based MBC Studios have teamed on the first Arabic-language adaptation of “The Office.” Titled “Al Maktab,” the Arabic redo of the groundbreaking BAFTA and Golden Globe award-winning British comedy series will be set in Saudi Arabia.Egypt’s Hisham Fathi (“Ending So Gently”) will direct with Italy’s Alessandro Martella serving a director of photography and Ryad-based AFLAM Productions’ Shadi Mcdad handling line producer duties.Cameras are set to roll in June on this MBC Studios original on which the BBC Studios international production team, who have licensed the format, will also have input. The plan is for the twenty-episode show to air on MBC’s linear TV channels, and stream on its Shahid VIP streaming platform later this year.

Sidhu Moose Wala, a prominent Indian rapper-turned-politician, was shot dead Sunday while driving in the Mansa district of Punjab, police said. He was 28.

Popular Indian rapper and singer Sidhu Moose Wala was shot and killed on Sunday evening. The artist, 28, was taken to hospital in the Mansa region of the Punjab state where he was declared dead. Punjab police official VK Bhawra has stated that the killing was the result of an inter-gang rivalry (via The Guardian).

Police in India say they are investigating a potential Canadian gang link to the murder of a Punjabi-language singer with roots in Brampton, Ont.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentSaudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding Telfaz11 Studios is teaming up with France’s Easy Riders Films to develop and produce a slate of four features directed by emerging Saudi talents with international ambitions.The first title expected to go into production is “Night Courier,” a comedy about a young man named Fahad who winds up in possession of six crates of illicit booze in an Arab city known for its hidden delights and dangers. This project was first presented last year at the inaugural Red Sea Film Festival’s Red Sea Souk projects market.The four-picture pact between Telfaz11 and Easy Riders was forged at the Cannes Film Festival.Founded by Alaa Yousef Fadan, Ali Al Kalthami, and Ibrahim Al Khairallah, Telfaz11 is an innovative content company that started out in the YouTube space and has since seen rapid growth in both production and distribution.

The husband of a teacher who was shot dead in the horrific Texas school attack on Tuesday has suffered a fatal heart attack, according to reports.

GenderCool Project, an organization that promotes LGBTQ inclusion through speaking events, mentorship programs, consulting, and advising for parents of transgender children, to provide a collection of three books — A Kids Book About Being Transgender, A Kids Book About Being Transgender, and A Kids Book About Being Non-Binary — for libraries and community centers to put on their shelves. The book initiative was touted as an effort to “replace misinformed opinions” about transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming youth with positive depictions of the community in the hope of promoting positive real-life interactions between readers and LGBTQ youth they may encounter. The books in question are written promote the idea of inclusion and explain who LGBTQ people, especially transgender and nonbinary individuals, are.“The project’s goal is to increase representation of LGBTQ+ books and support our communities in having challenging, important and empowering conversations with children age 5+,” an email from Jose Soto, State Farm’s Corporate Responsibility Analyst, which was sent to all of the company’s agents in Florida, reads.

GenderCool Project, an organization that promotes LGBTQ inclusion through speaking events, mentorship programs, consulting, and advising for parents of transgender children, to provide a collection of three books — A Kids Book About Being Transgender, A Kids Book About Being Transgender, and A Kids Book About Being Non-Binary — for libraries and community centers to put on their shelves. The book initiative was touted as an effort to “replace misinformed opinions” about transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming youth with positive depictions of the community in the hope of promoting positive real-life interactions between readers and LGBTQ youth they may encounter. The books in question are written promote the idea of inclusion and explain who LGBTQ people, especially transgender and nonbinary individuals, are.“The project’s goal is to increase representation of LGBTQ+ books and support our communities in having challenging, important and empowering conversations with children age 5+,” an email from Jose Soto, State Farm’s Corporate Responsibility Analyst, which was sent to all of the company’s agents in Florida, reads.

The writing’s on her side! Kristin Cavallari debuted new ink on her torso, and the art seemingly honors her love of travel.