Egypt: Amr Diab to star in Arabic musical drama

The 58-year-old musician shared the news via Twitter on 18 August. The series is said to be a musical drama, which is currently untitled and being developed.

"I am thrilled to work with Netflix on this new project," Diab wrote on the social platform. "I have always believed that art is a global language, and we have been able to build bridges of connections and love with diverse cultures through music. And, now with this new project with Netflix, I am excited that we will be reaching over 193 million members in more than 190 countries around the world where they will be able to watch new content made in Egypt and enjoyed by the world."

Speaking to local media, the director of Arabic Original Series at Netflix, Ahmed Sharkawi, said: "For the past 30 years, Amr Diab has captured people's hearts all over the world. He is a trendsetting icon who resonates with different generations through his music and talent. We are confident that this new project will excite fans and members for his glorious return to screen."

Diab's last acting role before his hiatus was in the 1993 film Dehk Wa Le' b Wa Gad Wa Hob, which was also his third film after co-starring in El Afareet (1990) and Ice Cream in Gleam (1992). Diab, also known as El Hadaba, has been one of the top selling Arab music recording artists for almost four decades. He has won multiple awards, including seven World Music Awards and six African Music Awards, among others.

In 2016, he was recognised by Guinness World Records as the first Arab singer to receive the largest number of international music awards for most albums sales in the Middle East. In 2019, he was inducted into the Dubai Stars walk of fame and honoured for his immense contribution to the Middle Eastern music scene. A few months later, he became the first Arab musician to be featured by Spotify on a Times Square billboard in New York.

The series marks the sixth Arabic-language production by Netflix after Justice, Dollar and Jinn, while Paranormal and AlRawabi School for Girls are currently in production.