Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, toured the Al-Hosn Big Time and Qiddiya studios in western Riyadh on Monday to assess progress on the large-scale historical film “The Battle of Yarmouk… Khalid bin Al-Walid,” also known by its working title “Unbroken Sword.”

The production—backed by the General Entertainment Authority, Riyadh Season, and produced by Sela—is the biggest film ever made in the Middle East and the region’s most ambitious English-language feature to date. It is currently deep in pre-production at Qiddiya, the Kingdom’s next-generation entertainment city.

Directed by acclaimed Hollywood filmmaker Alik Sakharov, whose credits include Game of Thrones, House of Cards, Ozark and Marco Polo, the film dramatizes the life and battles of the brilliant military leader Khalid bin Al-Walid.

Veteran Hollywood producer Richard Sharkey—known for House of the Dragon, Marco Polo, The Fifth Estate and The Lord of the Rings franchise—is also part of the project and briefed Alalshikh on the film’s international crew and global release ambitions.

Set in 7th-century Arabia, “Unbroken Sword” follows a feared warrior torn between legacy and truth as he leads an outnumbered Muslim army across uncharted desert terrain to confront the empires of Rome and Persia.

Through strategic mastery and a profound spiritual awakening, Khalid bin Al-Walid emerges as one of history’s most formidable military minds, while facing an internal reckoning over identity, destiny and the cost of becoming the “Unbroken Sword.”

Alalshikh’s visit marked a key milestone as the production advances. He toured multiple departments, reviewed early world-building work, and examined concept art, architectural designs, set builds, and action choreography plans.

He also visited large-scale outdoor environments constructed for the project, including battle sites and detailed historical settings.

Following the tour, Alalshikh said he was “happy and proud” to witness the progress being made by both global and Saudi teams. He noted that preparation has been underway for more than a year and a half, with the film representing one of the Kingdom’s most ambitious cinematic efforts to date.

In a post on X, he stressed his focus on “the quality of the outputs, costumes, and swords,” noting that more than 1,000 swords will be crafted and over 3,000 trees planted specifically for the film.

He also recalled his first meeting with Sakharov, who initially knew little about Khalid bin Al-Walid but later became deeply invested in the project. Sakharov has since relocated from New York and has been living on-site for six months.

Alalshikh confirmed the film is scheduled for release in 2027 and said the project reflects the rapid expansion of Saudi Arabia’s screen sector.