Vertical debuted the official trailer for Desert Warrior, the long‑in‑the‑making historical epic directed by Rupert Wyatt.
Set against the unforgiving sands of seventh‑century Arabia, the film stars Anthony Mackie as a mysterious warrior, Aiysha Hart as the defiant Princess Hind, and Sir Ben Kingsley as the ruthless Emperor Kisra.
Also starring in the film are Sharlto Copley, Ghassan Massoud, Sami Bouajila, Lamis Ammar, Géza Röhrig, and Numan Acar.
Wyatt, known for blockbuster work including Rise of the Planet of the Apes, co‑wrote the script with Erica Beeney, David Self, and Gary Ross, pulling together a story that blends epic action with intimate character drama.
After years of creative challenges and delayed timelines, Desert Warrior finally premiered at the 2025 Zurich Film Festival and is set for release in U.S. cinemas on April 24, 2026, via Vertical.
Set in the tumultuous world of pre‑Islamic Arabia, Desert Warrior follows Princess Hind, who refuses to submit to the predations of the powerful Emperor Kisra. After breaking free from his clutches, she and her father, King Numan, find themselves pursued across brutal desert terrain. When a mysterious bandit (Hanzala) crosses their path, their destinies intertwine and ignite a fierce uprising among fractured tribes, culminating in the decisive Battle of Ze Qar — a clash that will forever change the shape of the region.
Director Rupert Wyatt commented on the upcoming release, saying, “Desert Warrior is that rare beast of a film that combines a very human story with epic scope and ambition. Shot in the most extraordinary desert landscapes, with a cast and crew of thousands who all reached for the stars, I am privileged to have played my part in perhaps one of the last in-camera on-location action epics.”
Watch the official trailer for Desert Warrior above.
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