What happens when one brother is hiding a secret, the other is living large, and a wedding is about to blow it all up.
Crazy Rich Arabs, the new feature film in development by Walid Chaya, is a fast, funny, and heartfelt take on culture, chaos, and identity in the modern Middle East diaspora. Set between Beirut and Los Angeles, the film follows twin Arab-American brothers raised on opposite sides of the world. Omar is a high-powered divorce lawyer in L.A., all confidence and excess. His twin, Yousouf, is a closeted school music teacher in Beirut, gentle, reserved, and quietly living under the weight of expectation. When Yousouf flies to L.A. for an arranged marriage, he doesn’t choose, but a chance run-in reunites the brothers and sparks an outrageous idea: swap lives for a week.
What follows is pure rom-com gold; think Crazy Rich Asians meets The Parent Trap with a Middle Eastern twist. But beneath the mistaken identities, mix-ups, and mansions, the film digs into something deeper: the expectations we inherit and the parts of ourselves we hide to meet them. And while Omar and Yousouf might be the heart of the story, the supporting characters bring the fire. There’s Reema, the fiancée with a secret of her own. She’s posing as the “perfect daughter” to secure her inheritance, but quickly reveals a party-girl side that surprises even Omar, especially when she falls for him, not knowing he’s not Yousouf at all. Then there’s Layla, Omar’s best friend and a no-nonsense bar owner who serves as the film’s moral compass. With her unapologetic energy and fierce loyalty, she may be the only one who sees through everyone’s act. And let’s not forget the parents: Amoun, Yousouf’s mother, is a university professor with a sharp tongue and a soft spot for second chances. She’s returned to the city where she once fell in love with Saleem, Omar’s father, and a successful attorney. That long-lost romance still simmers beneath the surface, especially as they watch their sons unravel and come back together.
Add to the mix Amira, Saleem’s younger girlfriend with gold-digger energy, and Shay, Yousouf’s longtime online crush and unexpected L.A. ally, and you’ve got a cast full of rich personalities that mirror the story’s biggest question: Who are we when no one’s looking?
“Even though this is a comedy, the stakes are emotional,” says Chaya. “It’s about family, pressure, love, and the parts of ourselves we keep hidden to survive.”
Chaya is no stranger to culturally bold work. His short Driving Ms. Saudi screened at the WOW Film Fair Middle East and the World Expo in Dubai. His most recent comedy, Darn It Darla!, won Best Comedy Short at the Love Wins International Film Festival and Audience Choice at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival. He’s also the founder of Studio For Performing Arts LA and Moonlit Wings Productions and hosts the podcast Lights Camera Conversation.
Co-writer Jimmy Monack brings award-winning writing chops, with credits that include PBS’s Dunbar, the comedy script Dad-Tastic!, and accolades from the Nicholl Fellowship, Austin Film Festival, and more. Crazy Rich Arabs is currently in active development with a pitch-ready deck and early conversations underway with U.S. and MENASA-aligned producers. A second scripted version is also available, shifting the U.S. setting to Abu Dhabi for Gulf-based collaboration opportunities. For now, one thing is clear: Crazy Rich Arabs is more than just a comedy. It’s a story about love, legacy, and finally seeing yourself through the eyes of someone who looks just like you.
