DUBAI: French-Algerian actress Sofia Boutella and Egyptian actor Amir El-Masry have been cast in “SAS: Rogue Heroes,” a new series from “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight, the BBC has announced.
The pair join a star-studded cast that includes English actor and model Connor Swindells, “Game of Thrones” actor Alfie Allen, and Dominic West from “The Affair.”
The six-part series, based on Ben Macintyre’s novel of the same name, tells the true events of the formation of the Special Air Service, the British special forces unit during World War II.
While character plots remain scarce, the cast names have been revealed with Boutella set to play the role of Eve.
Meanwhile, Swindells takes the part of David Stirling, the British officer who executed a radical plan to set up a small commando unit to create mayhem behind enemy lines in North Africa.
Boutella is certainly one of Hollywood’s busiest stars. The “Atomic Blonde” actress recently wrapped up filming for the Wyatt Rockefeller-directed film “Settlers” and is set to begin shooting sci-fi comedy “Alpha Gang” alongside an all-star cast that includes Andrea Riseborough, Jon Hamm, Nicholas Hoult, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Mackenzie Davis, and Steven Yuen.
Her latest film, “Prisoners of the Ghostland” starring Nicolas Cage, made its world premiere at the virtual 2021 Sundance Film Festival in February to critical acclaim.
Boutella, who put aside her modeling and dancing career – she toured with Madonna as a backup dancer at one point – to pursue acting, took Hollywood by storm, quickly gaining a reputation as one to watch.
She now has a number of Hollywood blockbusters under her belt, including “Fahrenheit 451” and “The Mummy,” where she starred alongside Tom Cruise.
Meanwhile, El-Masry is a two-time BAFTA nominee who made his film debut in Egyptian cinema, following advice given to him by screen legend Omar Sharif.
In addition to the new BBC series, El-Masry was tapped to star in Netflix’s new sci-fi drama “The One.” The series, which launched on March 12, is based on British author John Marrs’ novel of the same name, and El-Masry appears alongside actors Hannah Ware and Dimitri Leonidas.
