Barajoun Entertainment’s much buzzed-about animated historical epic Bilal: A New Breed of Hero will make its US theatrical debut on February 2, 2018 through indie distributor Vertical Entertainment. Originally released in 2015, the ambitious Saudi Arabian CG production was named Best Inspiring Movie at the Cannes Film Festival’s Animation Days, Best Innovative Movie at the BroadCast Pro Middle East Awards, was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, and made the official selection for Annecy.
Synopsis: 1,400 years ago, Bilal, a 7-year-old boy who dreams of becoming a great warrior, is abducted into slavery with his sister and taken to a land far away from his home, thrown into a world where corruption and injustice rule all. Throughout his life he undergoes many hardships, through which he discovers an inner strength he did not realize he possessed. Through these experiences, Bilal comes to realize that if he is brave enough to raise his voice and choose his own path, everything becomes possible. It is through his courage that he frees himself and ultimately his community. It is through the power of his voice and faith that his lifelong dream of freedom comes true. Bilal grows into a man who will inspire the world.
Bilal stars Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Suicide Squad, Thor: The Dark World) as the voice of adult Bilal; Ian McShane (American Gods, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) as Umayya, Bilal’s evil master; Jacob Latimore (Detroit, Collateral Beauty) as teenage Bilal; China Anne McClain (Descendants 2, Descendants: Wicked World) as Bilal’s teenage sister Ghufaira; Cynthia Kaye McWilliams (Bosch, Nashville) as Bilal’s mother, Hamama; and Michael Gross (Tremors, ER) as Okba the cowardly slave trader.
