(24 May 2024)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 24 May 2024
1. Various of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence interacting with fans
2. Various of Jada Pinkett Smith
3. Wide, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence shakes hands with fan,
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, actors:
Smith: “You know, it is an absolute honor and, you know, a privilege to, you know, be the the first Hollywood premiere in, in Saudi. And, you know, the reason is because, you know, Saudi is on fire with arts and creativity and, you know, the way the energy, you just feel the energy of the people here and the reach for the future is is shining."
Lawrence: "Martinizing things."
Smith: "Yeah, yeah, yeah. It’s a beautiful time to be in Saudi.”
5. Various of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence interacting with fans
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, actors:
Smith: “It’s not us that will prompt others to come. It’s the energy of Saudi that is going to prompt others to come. It is the, you know, the Renaissance period artistically that’s happening here. The next 10 years in Saudi in terms of arts and culture and creativity is going to be madness.”
7. Various of Bad Boys directors Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi
8. Various of premiere banners
STORYLINE:
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence made history by becoming the first Hollywood actors to attend a movie premiere in Saudi Arabia on Friday. The duo attended the premiere of "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," the fourth instalment in the popular franchise.
Sony Pictures decided to premiere the movie in the Middle East before anywhere else, starting with Dubai, highlighting the region’s growing importance in the global film industry. Accompanying Smith and Lawrence are the film’s directors, the Belgian-Moroccan duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah.
The premiere of "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" in Saudi Arabia comes six years after the country lifted a 35-year ban on cinema in 2018 as part of their social reforms aimed at modernizing the country.
Around 500 people attended the premiere, hoping to see the stars and experience the historic event.
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence expressed their excitement about the premiere in Saudi Arabia. Smith said, "It is an absolute honor and a privilege to be part of the first Hollywood premiere in Saudi. Saudi is on fire with arts and creativity. You can feel the energy of the people here and their reach for the future is shining. It’s a beautiful time to be in Saudi."
VIDEO BY BARAA ANWER
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