I wasn’t sure this one would ever land U.S. theatrical distribution … Then again, we’re in the era of Briarcliff, Ketchup, and Vertical—indie outfits stepping in to scoop up so-called problem films like “The Apprentice,” “Coyote vs. Acme,” “Dracula,” “Modi,” and “Magazine Dreams.”
Following five years of behind-the-scenes chaos, “Desert Warrior,” which has a ridiculous budget of $150M, has finally been picked up by Vertical. An undisclosed spring 2026 release is being planned.
Where to start with “Desert Warrior”? A Saudi-backed epic starring Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, and Ben Kingsley—who were all probably offered royal paychecks to partake in the endeavor.
Presunably directed by Rupert Wyatt (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”), this historical spectacle has been dogged by creative headaches, desert heat, and more than a few existential questions about who exactly should be telling this story. I’m actually surprised Wyatt decided to keep his director’s credit on this film.
The project is primarily backed by Saudi money, marking it as the kingdom’s most ambitious cinematic project to date. It’s considered Saudi Arabia’s first major Hollywood-style tentpole film. The production, shot in 2021, was originally budgeted at around $70M, but it nearly doubled due to an assortment of issues.
Last October, a deep dive tackled the chaos: Wyatt walked off over disputes with tone, pacing, and runtime; screen tests revealed a disconnect with audiences; and U.S. studios reportedly squirmed at the idea of a Western creative team tackling a pre-Islamic Middle Eastern epic. Wyatt quit the film in April 2023. Editor Kelley Dixon, known for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” was brought in to re-cut his version, adding dialogue and reshaping Wyatt’s original vision.
“Desert Warrior” tells the tale of Arabian Princess Hind (Hart) refusing to become the concubine of the tyrannical Emperor Kisra (Kingsley). Escaping into the punishing desert, she enlists the mysterious Bandit (Mackie) to rally fractured tribes against Kisra’s massive army. The climactic battle has been compared to the Pelennor Fields siege in “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”—a comparison that raises eyebrows, but hey, ambition is always something to strive for.
Suffice it to say, after years of creative turbulence, Desert Warrior is finally ready—whatever that means—and Vertical has once again come to save the day. One thing’s for certain: whatever price they paid to acquire it, it probably wasn’t even one-tenth of what the producers spent on the film.
I wouldn't call this film great — it stops short of that because of how neatly it resolves itself — but I'll give Rock his due here: this is much better than his previous directorial effort, "Top Five."