Play Maker Studios on which 4D Studio acted as Lead Architect, are part of the Qiddiya entertainment city on the slopes of the iconic Tuwaiq Mountains, 40 minutes southwest of Riyadh. The first phase has been delivered from a standing start in 8 months and pre-production is underway on an ambitious historical epic titled “Unbroken Sword,” directed by Alik Sakharov, who has helmed multiple episodes of “The Sopranos” and “Game of Thrones.”
This production hub spans more than 50 acres of backlots and comprises two purpose-built soundstages with high-spec audio systems, and “full production facilities designed to meet the needs of ambitious, global productions,” according to a statement.
The hub features production offices and “premium on-site amenities, offering a seamless, end-to-end environment for every stage of production.” It will include dedicated post-production and visual effects facilities as well as music studios. PlayMaker Studios will offers producers streamlined access to Saudi Arabia’s 40% production rebate.
The PlayMaker Studios complex “is set to serve as both a creative powerhouse and a cornerstone of Qiddiya City’s entertainment ecosystem,” the statement noted.
Principal photography is set to begin in early 2026 on “Unbroken Sword,” which is the first film to be shot at PlayMaker Studios, where a crew of more than 200 people is already on the ground, according to the statement. The film is being sponsored by Saudi’s General Entertainment Authority and Riyadh Season, and produced by Sela.
