Jeddah makes a Hollywood cameo in Guy Ritchie's new film
The coastal city quietly steals the show in In The Grey, and Saudi film fans will definitely recognise a few familiar backdrops
There’s a scene in In The Grey that viewers in Saudi Arabia may suddenly do a double-take at. Amid the action-packed sequences, gritty cinematography and Guy Ritchie’s signature chaos, a very familiar backdrop appears: Jeddah.
Partly filmed in the coastal city, the thriller features scenes shot around the Jeddah Corniche, including one landmark that looks strikingly similar to the ongoing construction of the Sumou Towers development.
And while Hollywood productions filming in Saudi Arabia are no longer entirely new, there’s still something undeniably exciting about spotting recognisable local landmarks on screen.
Over the past few years, Saudi Arabia has steadily become an increasingly popular filming destination for international productions, thanks to its dramatic desert landscapes, futuristic cityscapes and rapidly expanding film infrastructure.
Big-budget productions, including Kandahar, starring Gerard Butler, and portions of Dune, have also filmed in the Kingdom, while AlUla has become a go-to backdrop for international studios.
Directed by acclaimed British filmmaker Guy Ritchie, In The Grey also has another strong Saudi connection through Mohammed Al Turki, who makes his on-screen acting debut in the film.
If you’ve followed the Red Sea International Film Festival over the years, Al Turki will already be a familiar name. The Saudi Arabian film producer – who also serves as the CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation – has become one of the Kingdom’s most recognisable figures in global cinema circles, often seen alongside Hollywood stars.
It is hardly surprising then that the film was also supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation, which continues to play a growing role in attracting international productions and global industry attention to Saudi Arabia.
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What may stand out most to local audiences, though, is seeing Jeddah itself on screen. The city’s evolving skyline, waterfront roads and large-scale developments lend themselves surprisingly well to Ritchie’s slick, fast-paced style.
For audiences in Saudi Arabia, In The Grey offers an extra layer of fun. Alongside the action and star-studded cast, there’s the added thrill of spotting familiar corners of Jeddah woven into the film, making it more than just another Hollywood thriller.
You can still catch In The Grey in cinemas across the Kingdom. The film stars Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, Eiza González and Rosamund Pike, and follows two specialists tasked with planning an escape route for a high-profile figure.
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