Nadine Labaki film 'Perfect Strangers' wraps in Lebanon

The Arabic remake is expected to release in the fourth quarter of 2021

The Arabic remake stars Egyptian actress Mona Zaki, left, and award-winning Lebanese actress Nadine Labaki. AFP / AP

The new Arabic remake of Perfect Strangers, which stars Lebanese award-winning filmmaker and actress Nadine Labaki and legendary Egyptian actress Mona Zaki, has wrapped filming in Lebanon.

The news was shared by Mario Haddad Jr, president of distribution at Empire International and one of the main producers of the film, on his Instagram account.

"It's an experience that we have dreamt of and cherished and in the best of dreams we wouldn't have dreamt to work with people like you," he said, in a video that showed co-producer Gianluca Chakra, chief executive officer of Front Row Filmed Entertainment, as well as Zaki, Labaki and actor George Khabbaz, among others.

Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzy, chief executive of Film Clinic is also involved in the film's production; while Mayada Al Hiraki is its executive producer

The film also stars Eyad Nassar (The Blue Elephant 2), as well as Lebanese actors Adel Karam (The Insult, Caramel), Diamand Bou Abboud (The Insult), Fouad Yammine (Very Big Shot) and Khabbaz, who starred in Ghadi and co-wrote Capernaum.

The Arabic version of the 2016 Italian smash-hit is set in Lebanon during the country's recent political crisis and coronavirus pandemic. The story follows a group of seven long-time friends who get together for dinner. They decide to play a game that involves them placing their phones on the dinner table, making all their calls and text messages available to one another. What starts off as fun and games quickly becomes serious as untold secrets are revealed.

Yammine also shared images with the cast members on his social media. "Thank you for this amazing experience," he wrote.

Adapted by Gabriel Yammine and Wissam Smayra, the film is the latter's debut feature.

The original Italian version was an international success, grossing more than $31 million, and has resulted in countless remakes including  Spanish, Greek, Turkish and French versions.

According to latest news on the film, it is expected to release across the Middle East by the fourth quarter of this year.