Omar Sharif returns to small screen to play Omar Mokhtar

By Nohad Topalian in Beirut
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-02-19

[Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for DIFF] Omar Sharif at 2009 Dubai Film Festival.

In 1981the late renowned star Anthony Quinn portrayed the character of Omar Mokhtar on the silver screen in Lion of the Desert, a movie costing $30 million that was directed by Moustapha Akkad, an American of Syrian origin.

Almost three decades later, Omar Mokhtar is back in the limelight, only this time on the small screen in four competing TV series. Four different directors are handling the story, and a number of names are being suggested for the part with Omar Sharif being the most prominent.

The four series, all titled Omar Mokhtar, follow a long and twisted road. The first is a Libyan production, which should star Omar Sharif and will be directed by Najdat Azour, a Syrian. The second was written by Tarek Al-Badawi. Magdi Kamel is the name being proposed for the leading role.

Mahmoud Hemaida is the name mentioned for the lead in the third series. Hemaida was so excited about playing the character that he agreed with to start work with some writers, only to announce soon after that work might come to a halt. The fourth series is written by Yossri El-Gendi, who is awaiting the approval of a production company.

Competition is hot among the four synchronous series. The debate between the two Syrian directors, Najdat Azour and Bassel Al-Khateeb, has not been settled. Al-Khateeb suggested Magdi Kamel for the role, having worked previously with him in the series Gamal Abdel Nasser. However, bringing up the name of Omar Sharif, who agreed to take the role, is enough to settle the heated debate.

Sharif will make an outstanding comeback on the small screen, portraying the remarkable character of Omar Mokhtar. Sharif first came to global attention in 1962 when he played Sherif Ali in Lawrence of Arabia. In 1965 Sharif played the title role in the highly acclaimed Dr. Zhivago.

In succeeding years, in American, Italian and French movies, Sharif became synonymous with the calm, mysterious, decent and sexy man. His long standing career includes roles in movies such as Funny Girl, Peter the Great, The Yellow Rolls Royce, and Monsieur Ibrahim et les Fleurs du Coran.

Sharif received a number of international awards. He received a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for Lawrence of Arabia, and won another in 1966 for Best Actor in Dr. Zhivago. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actor in 1962 for Lawrence of Arabia.

Sharif appeared in more than 70 movies, 20 of which were Arabic. Parts he played were comic, serious, romantic or classic. Among his Arabic films were Fi Baytena Ragol, (A Man in Our House), Le’b we Gad we Hob, (Fun, Seriousness and Love), Al-Muwaten Masri, (An Egyptian Citizen), and Hassan we Morcos, (Hassan and Morcos).

In recognition of his rich contribution to cinema, he was awarded the Arab World Celebrity Artists Award in 2004. In the same year, Omar received a César Award for his part in Monsieur Ibrahim et les Fleurs du Coran, directed by François Dupeyron, and the Golden Lion Award from the Venice Film Festival in recognition of his entire career.

In 2009 Sharif performed his latest part in Al-Mosafer with Khaled Al-Nabawi and Lebanese star Serine Abdel Nour. Now he is preparing for his part in Omar Al-Mokhtar.

It is noteworthy that Omar Sharif is a top-notch bridge player and has written several books on the art of, and tactics in, the game, which he no longer plays in order to spend more time with his family. In addition, Microsoft is currently promoting a game titled "Omar Sharif Bridge".

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