EXCLUSIVE: Egyptian actor Mohamed Karim is set to star in Brian Skiba’s desert race thriller Dead End, which will shoot in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Arizona in 2026.
Karim was recently seen in Skiba’s western adventure Gunslingers, which starred Nicholas Cage, Heather Graham and Stephen Dorff, and hit theaters in the U.S. in April. For this latest collaboration, Karim will star and produce under his MK Global Entertainment banner.
Kirk Shaw (Ambitious Entertainment) joins as a producer, bringing experience on more than 200 productions including Academy Award-winning drama The Hurt Locker.
Karim will star as Nixon Callahan,a former street racing legend, has been hiding in Cairo, haunted by a tragic past. When forced into one last drive, he must confront his demons. Teaming with a rogue mechanic, he must survive a deadly cross-desert run, navigating outlaw bikers, assassins, and a global syndicate, all while transporting a mysterious trunk that’s worth killing for.
The film will be shot in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Arizona in 2026, with further cast members to be announced soon.
Combining a blend of Middle Eastern roots and Hollywood experience, Karim has long been a major player in the Middle East’s film and television community. A GQ Middle East’s Man of the Year in 2022 and the former host of The Voice Arabia, Karim’s feature MENA feature credits include Shahata’s Store and Stolen Kisses.
The producers are planning to showcase Dead End at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival and market in Saudi Arabia in December.
