‘Desert Warrior’ Review: Anthony Mackie Stars in a Blandly Gorgeous Two-Hour Commercial for the Saudi Arabian Film Industry
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- Anthony Mackie headlines the $150 million Saudi‑backed epic, playing a nameless desert bandit in “Desert Warrior”.
- Rupert Wyatt directs the film, which is billed as a showcase for the Saudi film industry and the NEOM megacity.
- Saudi Arabia uses the production to promote NEOM’s desert landscape and infrastructure, despite ongoing human‑rights criticism.
- Netflix saw its shares fall roughly 9‑10% amid market pressure, a backdrop to the Saudi film push.
- Google launched a free Gemini Mac app for macOS, expanding AI tools for creative workflows.
Why it matters: Saudi Arabia secures a $150 million showcase that will attract global talent and tourism, while Netflix’s 9‑10% share dip underscores pressure to source fresh content; Google’s new AI app will soon lower production costs for such spectacles.
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