After acquiring the Arabic remake rights for International box office hit INTOUCHABLES, Front Row has landed the writing and directing team for the project in Egyptian screenwriter Amr El Daly and Egyptian/Franco-Lebanese director Jad Aouad.

Intouchables is the second Arabic remake in Front Row’s slate following the Arabic adaptation of Italy’s worldwide hit “Perfect Strangers”.

Released in 2011, Gaumont and Canal Plus’ original French version “Les Intouchables” starred Omar Sy and Francois Cluzet and was the highest-grossing foreign-language hit, garnering over 426$ million in the international theatrical market. It also ranks third in France’s all-time box office. The massive success translated into several adaptations including 2019’s US version “The Upside” starring Bryan Cranston, Kevin Hart, and Nicole Kidman.

The Arabic version of Intouchables is set to take place in Egypt and focuses on a wealthy paraplegic and his relationship to a small-time hood who becomes his caretaker. The two form a strong bond despite the wide social and cultural divide between them.

Screenwriter Amr El Daly’s career kicked off developing the highly-touted TV series “Dawaran Shoubra. This success continued with further TV projects like “Ded El Kasr” and “Bi Meet Wesh”, both massive successes across various Arabic TV and streaming platforms. Amr’s focus on themes of class struggle and the individual versus the collective will be further explored in Intouchables.

“I am very excited about adapting Intouchables into an Arabic language, Egyptian film. The story touches on many relatable themes explored through the differences between the socioeconomic classes, which is something that cuts deep for me.”

“ I am very intrigued by the contrast in the nature, circumstances, morals and education of each of the two characters and am truly excited to play around with these dynamics and how they form this friendship/bond. I am also really looking forward to working with Jad Aouad after having met him in Cairo. I feel he is really sensitive to these complex issues within this story and we really saw eye-to-eye in that sense.”

States Daly

Intouchables is Director Aouad’s feature debut. He has had an award-winning career in advertising, working alongside renowned international talents as Florent-Emilio Siri, Pascal Dash, Diamentino Ferriera and famed Hollywood director Jan de Bont (Twister, Speed). Speaking on his excitement to head the project, Aouad remarks “I’ve been building to this moment my entire career, working with wonderful international talents throughout the years. Intouchables is a touching, humanist film that fits perfectly with my personal sensibilities – what brings us together as people, what transcends status and capital.”

“We’ve made it our mission to find and nurture emerging talent that we feel will have a profound impact and drive change in the creative industry”

“We’re very excited to be working with both Jad and Amr on Intouchables. They have truly authentic voices and a natural instinct that will make this version of Intouchables unique for Arab viewers while also translate well for the international audiences.”

remarks Front Row CEO Gianluca Chakra

Intouchables is set to begin filming in Egypt in May 2022.