EXCLUSIVE: Roel Reiné (Halo, Classified) has signed to direct psychological thriller The Rest Room, which is scheduled to shoot in Dubai and the wider UAE in early 2026.
The feature is co-written by Emirati producer and screenwriter Abdulhamid Ali and U.S. writer Donnalyn Vojta.
Ali is also producing under his Dubai-based banner Al Bait Al Asward Art Production, with casting underway ahead of a sales launch at Cannes.
The contained thriller follows seven strangers trapped overnight in a mall restroom, where hidden agendas collide and a suspicious death forces everyone to confront their darkest secrets, and their own capacity for redemption.
Producers also include Paul Thompstone (The Gates) through Studio Atlantic and Adolf El Assal at Edgy Media.
“Partnering with Roel Reiné on The Rest Room is a tremendous honor and an exciting creative opportunity,” said Ali, Thompstone and El Assal.
“Roel’s outstanding body of work, from large-scale sci-fi productions like Halo to gripping thrillers such as Classified, showcases the depth of his talent and vision. With his expertise and the exceptional team assembled for this project, The Rest Room is poised to deliver a powerful and unforgettable cinematic experience.”
Reiné launched his career in the Netherlands with The Delivery, which earned him the Dutch Academy Award for Best Director, and went on to helm titles including Admiral, Redbad, Marvel’s Inhumans, and Wu Assassins. His latest feature, Classified, stars Aaron Eckhart and Tim Roth. He is represented by IAG and Echo Lake.
Further upcoming features from much-in-demand Reiné include Bulgaria-shot survival thriller Savage Hunt and American Smuggler, the upcoming action-drama starring 24, Major League and Far From Heaven actor Dennis Haysbert.
