The show will form the first part of a MENA-based true crime anthology series set in various periods and locations within the Arab world.
Middle East-based production company Yalla Yalla, founded by Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Rocket Science has brought together Oscar-winning writer/director Terry George and acclaimed Egyptian writer Mariam Naoum to co-write the serial killer series The Alexandria Killings.
Set in 1920 when Egypt was under British rule, the series will chronicle the true story of Egyptian sisters Raya and Sakina. The sisters came from a poor Alexandria neighbourhood and rose from poverty to run a glamorous brothel operation, drawing on a powerful and influential circle of Egyptian and British officers, informants, and statesmen. At its heights, the Hammams’ operation became a hive of secrets, intelligence sharing, and criminal conspiracies among the top echelons of the Alexandria underworld. The rise and fall of their empire found the sisters relying more and more on petty theft, leading to the murder of 17 women in crimes of opportunity. The sisters were eventually put on trial and became the first women to be sentenced to death, causing a massive social outcry. Public perception of the women varied from cold-blooded criminal masterminds to victims.
The show will form the first part of a MENA-based true crime anthology series set in various periods and locations within the Arab world.
The series will be shot predominantly in Arabic with English to reflect British rule, exploring the complexities of life on the fringes of a male-dominated society. George’s previous works scrutinizes Colonial rule in its’ various forms, whilst Naoum has profound knowledge of the patriarchal Arab society and the struggle of women within the system, allowing for a unique common vision for the show.
Commenting on the collaboration, Terry George, said: “I look forward to collaborating with a truly international team of talented producers and storytellers to investigate the remarkable true story of the Hammam sisters. I am particularly delighted to be working with renowned Egyptian writer Mariam Naoum to tackle subject matter that while containing all the captivating elements of a legendary crime also encompasses global themes of sexism, jealousy, greed and lost love. This will be a thrilling and entertaining journey.”
Co-writer Mariam Naoum added: “I’m very enthusiastic about being a part of this project, and I feel lucky to be working with Terry George and Front Row. At this point of my career, I really believe that merging the experiences of the middle eastern and western filmmakers is crucial for the industry of filmmaking and it will help perfect the adaptation of the story. And I’m sure that I’ll also be learning a lot during this journey.”
Front Row & Yalla Yalla CEO Gianluca Chakra stated: “We are really proud and excited to be working with amazing talent like Terry and Mariam. We see Terry and Mariam forming a strong synergy with their experiences tackling these complex and interesting subject matters; Terry’s impactful, Award-winning work in landmark Award-winning productions and Mariam’s powerful resume in Arabic film and TV are a perfect match for The Alexandria Killings. The societal exploration underpinning the murders is unique in that the world has not seen anything of this scale from the Arab world. We’re really looking forward to it.”
The Alexandria Killings will be executive produced by Hisham AlGhanim, Michela Scolari, who is represented by Larry Hummel and Nayla Al Khaja, who is represented by Adel Nur.
Terry George’s previous works include the Oscar-nominated Hotel Rwanda and In The Name of The Father. Mariam Naoum’s Between Two Seas’ and One-Zero were critically acclaimed projects for film and TV. Naoum’s endeavours to change the conditions by which women are perceived in her native Egypt are a key driving factor throughout her career along with her various social activism campaigns, earning her recognition by UN Women Egypt on International Women’s Day in 2016.
