Netflix to film supernatural drama in Jordan

Netflix will film the supernatural drama Jinn on location in Jordan later this year as its first Arabic original series.

By Nick Goundry 27 Feb 2018

Netflix to film supernatural drama in Jordan
Petra in Jordan

Netflix will film the supernatural drama Jinn on location in Jordan later this year as its first Arabic original series.

Jinn will be executive produced by Elan and Rajeev Dassani of Master Key Productions, a company that specialises in international location filming.

The series has a Lebanese director and a Jordanian writer.

The drama will follow a group of teens who encounter a jinn – a supernatural entity found in Arabic and Islamic mythology – while visiting Jordan’s ancient site of Petra (pictured).

“We’re delighted to be working with such a variety of breakout talent to launch our first Arabic original series in the Middle East,” said Erik Barmack, vice president of international original series at Netflix.

“We are extremely excited to bring this story to a global audience and to celebrate Arab youth and culture. We can’t wait to share more details later this year.”

Jordan is internationally known for its desert filming locations and has recently hosted scenes for Guy Ritchie’s live-action version of Aladdin, while also standing in for Iraq in the war movie Sand Castle. Some of the country’s vistas also doubled for Mars in Ridley Scott’s hit sci-fi movie The Martian.

The Royal Film Commission Jordan has launched a cash rebate worth up to 20% of eligible local spending as a filming incentive that could help boost the country’s international production profile.

A key limitation of the incentive is that per-production payments are capped at just under $1.5m, meaning Jordan will continue to face stiff competition from countries like Malta, Morocco and South Africa, and also New Mexico in the US.

See KFTV's production guide for more on filming in Jordan.

Images: FreeImages.com/Gabor Palla/Brad Mering

The series has a Lebanese director and a Jordanian writer.

The drama will follow a group of teens who encounter a jinn – a supernatural entity found in Arabic and Islamic mythology – while visiting Jordan’s ancient site of Petra (pictured).

“We’re delighted to be working with such a variety of breakout talent to launch our first Arabic original series in the Middle East,” said Erik Barmack, vice president of international original series at Netflix.

“We are extremely excited to bring this story to a global audience and to celebrate Arab youth and culture. We can’t wait to share more details later this year.”

Jordan is internationally known for its desert filming locations and has recently hosted scenes for Guy Ritchie’s live-action version of Aladdin, while also standing in for Iraq in the war movie Sand Castle. Some of the country’s vistas also doubled for Mars in Ridley Scott’s hit sci-fi movie The Martian.

The Royal Film Commission Jordan has launched a cash rebate worth up to 20% of eligible local spending as a filming incentive that could help boost the country’s international production profile.

A key limitation of the incentive is that per-production payments are capped at just under $1.5m, meaning Jordan will continue to face stiff competition from countries like Malta, Morocco and South Africa, and also New Mexico in the US.

See KFTV's production guide for more on filming in Jordan.

Images: FreeImages.com/Gabor Palla/Brad Mering

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