BEIRUT/CAIRO, 24 January 2004 — The search for Arab actors to star in an action film led Hollywood producer and Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Junior to Beirut, the Arab daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reported yesterday.
The producer has signed the young, Lebanese popstar Wael Kfouri for an action film with Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas, according to the report.
Kfouri is from Zahle, Samaha’s hometown.
Cuba Gooding Jr., 35, will also star in the action film based on the tale of “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves” from “1001 Arabian Nights”. Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe stood good chances of landing the leading actress role in the film also, the Beirut-based Daily Star newspaper reported yesterday.
Wehbe gave her best during an impromptu performance in a Beirut nightclub last Wednesday and danced with Cuba Gooding Jr. He became so excited that he shed his shirt and T-shirt, according to the report.