Anthony Mackie’s historical epic Desert Warrior, made for $150 million four years ago, has received its world premiere at the Zurich Film Festival following numerous delays. Directed by Rupert Wyatt, who co-wrote the screenplay with David Self, Erica Beeney and Gary Ross, the film stars Mackie alongside Aiysha Hart.
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Set in pre-Islamic times, the story centres on a battle between the Persian-Sasanian Empire and Arab tribes. Mackie plays Hanzala, a bandit who rescues Princess Hind (Hart) from the evil Emperor Kisra, portrayed by Ben Kingsley. The plot follows Hind and Hanzala as they rally the tribes for a climactic confrontation with Kisra’s army after she refuses to become his concubine.
The production encountered significant delays, including Wyatt’s temporary departure over creative differences with MBC Studios regarding the film’s length, tone and pacing. Early screen tests reportedly highlighted issues with audience engagement, leaving some major US studios unconvinced about the project. Despite this, Wyatt returned to complete the film, which was shot on location in the Saudi Arabian desert.
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Reviews of Desert Warrior have been mixed. Deadline described it as “initially entertaining” but eventually “a stodgy, sprawling, feminist, pre-Islamic Gandhi,” while Screen Daily praised Kingsley’s performance but noted a lack of connection between key characters. Practical effects were widely commended, although critics noted that the troubled production history seems evident in the final product, leaving audiences divided on its overall impact.
