Syrian-American director Moustafa Akkad's epic film about Prophet Mohammed- 'The Message'- will finally be screened in Saudi cinemas from Thursday onwards, four decades after an initial ban.&nbsp;

“Knowing that there were so many difficulties… , now that they’re showing it in the theatres I couldn’t be happier,” said Akkad’s son said to a news agency. The film, which released in 1976, has been widely watched in hee Arab world over the years. But it was banned in the land of Islam’s holiest sites and boycotted by conservatives for its depiction of the prophet and his companions.

“It caused a lot of controversy and there were a lot of obstacles put in its way,” said Akkad’s son, Malik Moustafa Akkad. He added that the film remains banned in Kuwait. 
&nbsp;Saudi Arabia lifted a longstanding ban on cinemas last year, part of an easing of social restrictions pushed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi theatres will now screen a restored version of the 1976 epic, produced from the film’s original negatives.”Even if you’ve seen the film, you’ve never seen it look this good,” said Akkad’s son.The late director “always intended it to be a big-screen event. And that’s the way to see it”, he added.

Profits from the screenings will support a scholarship fund for filmmakers from the region to study at Moustafa Akkad’s alma mater, the University of Southern California. The Aleppo-born director perished with his daughter in the 2005 Amman hotel bombings claimed by Al-Qaeda that cost dozens of lives.

'The Message' originally released in 1976.

Syrian-American director Moustafa Akkad's epic film about Prophet Mohammed- 'The Message'- will finally be screened in Saudi cinemas from Thursday onwards, four decades after an initial ban. “Knowing that there were so many difficulties… , now that they’re showing it in the theatres I couldn’t be happier,” said Akkad’s son said to a news agency. The film, which released in 1976, has been widely watched in hee Arab world over the years. But it was banned in the land of Islam’s holiest sites and boycotted by conservatives for its depiction of the prophet and his companions. “It caused a lot of controversy and there were a lot of obstacles put in its way,” said Akkad’s son, Malik Moustafa Akkad. He added that the film remains banned in Kuwait. Saudi Arabia lifted a longstanding ban on cinemas last year, part of an easing of social restrictions pushed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi theatres will now screen a restored version of the 1976 epic, produced from the film’s original negatives.”Even if you’ve seen the film, you’ve never seen it look this good,” said Akkad’s son.The late director “always intended it to be a big-screen event. And that’s the way to see it”, he added. Profits from the screenings will support a scholarship fund for filmmakers from the region to study at Moustafa Akkad’s alma mater, the University of Southern California. The Aleppo-born director perished with his daughter in the 2005 Amman hotel bombings claimed by Al-Qaeda that cost dozens of lives.

Film on Prophet Mohammed to release in Saudi theaters four decades after its initial ban

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Film on Prophet Mohammed to release in Saudi theaters four decades after its initial ban