On the way to boosting its production in the Middle East, Netflix has announced it’s third Arabic original series. Titled Paranormal (Ma Wara’a Al Tabiei), it is the streaming giant’s first Egyptian drama and is based on the best-selling Arabic horror series by late Egyptian author Ahmed Khaled Towfik.
Towfik is a celebrated writer in the Arabic Sci-fi genre and published 81 books in the Ma Wara’a Al Tabiei series before he passed away in 2018. The plot of the series will be set in the 1960s and follow the lead character, hematologist Dr. Refaat Ismaeil as supernatural forces enter his life.
Cairo International Film Festival president Mohammed Hefzy will jointly produce the series with director Amr Salama. “I’m proud to be working with Netflix on bringing to life the ‘Paranormal’ series, which I hold dear to my heart,” said Hefzy in a statement. “I’m also excited to be cooperating again with long-time collaborator and friend, director Amr Salama. Together with Netflix, we aim to present a show of international quality and that lives up to the promises and ambitions of Egyptian and Arabic drama.”
Salama, who is known for directing the Egyptian Oscar entry Sheikh Jackson said, “I’m very excited about this project, It was my dream to adapt Paranormal of the late author Ahmed Khaled Tawfik and turn it into a drama since I ever wanted to be a filmmaker. I’m proud to present the books in a new light while still keeping the essence of Paranormal.”
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