Screentime

Movie Stars Will Visit Saudi Arabia. Will They Work There?

Stars, producers and financiers are traveling to Saudi Arabia looking for cash. The country wants foreigners to help nurture a local industry in exchange.

The Red Sea International Film Festival 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Photographer: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images

Good afternoon from Los Angeles. It’s great to be home.

A couple years ago, I heard from a lot of sources that were starting to do business in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom was investing billions into golf and video games and building a $1.5 trillion futuristic city that could host productions. After talking to a bunch of people, I wrote about the country’s growing ambitions in media.