World’s First ‘Dragon Ball’ Theme Park Will Be Built In Saudi Arabia

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Saudi Arabia has landed its first film in the Cannes Film Festival official selection with “Norah,” a drama by pioneering director Tawfik Alzaidi set in 1990s Saudi, when conservatism was at its height and all forms of art and painting were banned for religion-related reasons. “Norah,” which premiered locally in December at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, will be launching internationally from Cannes’ prestigious Un Certain Regard section, marking the first Saudi film to screen in Cannes and becoming a symbol of the kingdom’s rapidly growing moviemaking ambitions since Saudi Arabia lifted its 35-year-old religion-related ban on cinema in 2017.

EXCLUSIVE: UK director Jon Amiel has signed to direct upcoming feature Sands of Fortune which explores the story behind the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia and the birth of the country’s petroleum and natural gas giant Aramco.

Saudi Arabia has declared the date Eid will take place on for Muslims observing the month of Ramadan. Eid-ul-Fitr or Eid-al-Fitr, is one of the two main holidays in the Islamic calendar.

Beau Willimon (Andor) has been tapped to co-write Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi (working title) alongside the film’s director James Mangold, Deadline can confirm.

Katcy Stephan “House of Cards” creator Beau Willimon will co-write the script for “Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi.” He’ll pen the Lucasfilm project alongside James Mangold, who will also direct the film. It will trace the origins of the Force and will be set 25,000 years before any other “Star Wars” project previously seen.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a nine-year-old boy was allegedly assaulted in a park.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Samar Akrouk has been appointed managing director of Saudi production powerhouse MBC Studios, replacing U.S. producer Christina Wayne, who recently quietly exited the top post at the production arm of top Middle East broadcaster MBC Group. Akrouk, who has been with MBC for almost 30 years, is currently the group’s director of production.

Star Wars franchise filmmaker George Lucas has been revealed as the richest celebrity in the world.The director, 79, who has accumulated a $5.5billion fortune, topped the annual Forbes list of celebrity billionaires.Lucas, who was the executive producer, writer and director of the Star Wars franchise up until Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith in 2005, also produced the Indiana Jones film series.His production company, Lucasfilm was sold to Disney in 2012 for $4billion, and has produced the later films in the Star Wars series, along with other projects.In his early career, Lucas wrote and directed the 1973 hit, American Graffiti, for which he received Oscar nominations for Best Director and Best Picture.But it was 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, the first film in the franchise, which would secure his success, becoming the highest-grossing film at the time and winning six Oscars, as well as nominations for Best Picture and Best Director.Lucasfilm have also produced two upcoming Star Wars spin-off series, The Acolyte, and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, both scheduled for release this year.Sitting at second place on the list is celebrated director of Jaws, E.T: The Extra Terrestrial and Jurassic Park, Steven Spielberg, with a hefty $4.8billion.Others in the top 20 list include NBA star Michael Jordan, broadcaster Oprah Winfrey, Lord Of The Rings creator Peter Jackson, and singer Taylor Swift.Swift appeared on the annual list for the first time, in 14th place, following reports by Bloomberg last October that she had become a billionaire.The singer, 34, has broken multiple streaming, box-office and ticket sale records in the past year with the success of her global tour and the release of the concert film, Tay

"2024, we coming," was the pledge Jesse Lingard made on New Year's Eve, with the Burj Khalifa as his backdrop on an Instagram post to his nine million followers.

the upcoming Miss Universe 2024 pageant as it announces its debut in the prestigious international competition. Rumy Alqahtani, a 27-year-old Riyadh-born model and content creator, has been chosen to represent the Kingdom on this global platform, marking a significant moment for Saudi Arabian women in beauty pageants.Alqahtani, known for her grace, poise, and intelligence, posted a heartfelt message on her Instagram account expressing her honor and excitement about participating in the Miss Universe 2024 competition.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Saudi Arabia, where popular anime characters such as “Captain Tsubasa” and “Dragon Ball” protagonist Son Goku have been engrained in the culture for decades, is taking its love affair with Japanese manga content to the next level. In late March, just a few weeks after the death of “Dragon Ball” creator Akira Toriyama, it was announced that the world’s first theme park dedicated to the megahit Japanese manga and animation franchise will be built in Qiddiya, the massive entertainment and tourism project outside the Saudi capital of Riyadh through a joint venture between Qiddiya and Japan’s Toei Animation.

Emotional Steven Gerrard has issued a personal pledge in a bid to continue starring for Liverpool in the coming years.

Kate Middleton has been spotted in a helicopter with husband Prince William after she announced she has been diagnosed with cancer.The Prince and Princess of Wales were today seen boarding a helicopter on their way to their country home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, for an Easter break. It is thought they will be joined by their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Just a few weeks after the death of its creator Akira Toriyama, the world’s first theme park dedicated to the “Dragon Ball” universe of comics, movies, and games is set to be built in Saudi Arabia. The “Dragon Ball” park, centred around the world of Son Goku – the young boy with supernatural martial arts powers on a journey to collect seven magical orbs that elicit a wish-granting dragon – will be built in Qiddiya, the entertainment and tourism project outside the Saudi capital of Riyadh, the Qiddiya Investment Company and Toei Animation announced on Friday.

Concern about the fact that Donald Trump must post a $450 million-plus bond by Monday — and where he might get that money — prompted a curious debate with the ex-president’s lawyer on Fox News on Wednesday.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent In one of the most anticipated keynotes at Series Mania Festival, JB Perrette, president/CEO of global streaming and games at Warner Bros. Discovery, dropped the launch date for Max across the first nine European countries on May 21.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Fashion designer and creative director Nicola Formichetti, who has worked with Lady Gaga for over a decade, has been recruited by Saudi Arabia’s Film AlUla as mentor for its AlUla Creates initiative that is at the intersection of film and fashion. In his new role, the prolific Formichetti – who besides masterminding Lady Gaga’s instantly iconic meat dress has collaborated with Nicole Kidman, Bad Bunny and Olivia Rodrigo and created visual campaigns for global fashion houses such as Mugler, Diesel and Uniqlo – will “support the first wave of emerging Saudi design talent, as both the film and fashion pathways converge,” according to a statement.

Happy Valley's James Norton is starring in new Netflix IVF drama 'JOY', which tells the true story of Louise Joy Brown, the first person born through In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) in Oldham.

Paul Mescal and Ayo Edebiri are sparking some romance rumors!

Easter is just around the corner, and it's the perfect time to plan a fun and adrenaline-filled day out for all the family.