Saudi filmmaker Lina Malaika is developing a new survival thriller, Red Sea, with actress and producer Natasha Lyonne attached as a producer through her companies Animal Pictures and Ariadne.
Set along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, the film follows a group of young friends whose luxury yacht excursion turns into a fight for survival after a series of unexpected events leaves them stranded far from shore. As fear, isolation and mistrust intensify, the group begins to suspect they are not alone in the water.
The screenplay is written by Heaven Howard and Brooke Schlegel. The project is currently in development, with casting and financing efforts underway, according to Deadline.
Malaika said the concept was inspired by her longstanding connection to the region.
“Growing up by the Red Sea, I was always fascinated by its beauty, mythology and depth. There is something both spiritual and terrifying about it at the same time,” she said.
Red Sea
She added: “With Red Sea, we wanted to create a film that feels immersive, cinematic and emotionally claustrophobic. It is a survival story, but it is also about fear, human instinct and what happens when paradise becomes a trap.”
A graduate of the New York Film Academy, Malaika first gained attention with her short film Moskoon, which premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival in 2021. Her credits also include the documentary One Giant Leap, which chronicles the journey of Saudi Arabia’s first female astronaut. Most recently, she appeared in the Saudi horror feature They Came for Us, which is currently in post-production.
Lyonne continues to expand her work as a producer. Her company Animal Pictures has produced acclaimed series including Russian Doll and Poker Face. Earlier this year, she launched Ariadne with Sean Lennon and Evan Ross. The company’s first project is the documentary series Vitruvian Scumbag.
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