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Superheroes take to the stage at Middle East Film & Comic Con

Superheroes take to the stage at Middle East Film & Comic Con
Wilson Bethel, Andrew Garfield, Grant Gustin and Charlie Cox at the Middle East Film & Comic Con on Saturday. (Instagram)
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Updated 20 April 2025

Superheroes take to the stage at Middle East Film & Comic Con

Superheroes take to the stage at Middle East Film & Comic Con

DUBAI: Abu Dhabi’s Middle East Film & Comic Con turned into a multiverse crossover event as Andrew Garfield, Charlie Cox, Grant Gustin, and Wilson Bethel took the stage for a packed superhero panel.

The four actors — known for portraying Spider-Man, Daredevil, The Flash, and Bullseye respectively — reflected on their iconic roles and what it means to bring beloved comic-book characters to life.

Garfield discussed meeting fans at conventions. “It’s always a bit nerve-wracking when you’re coming to see fans. And every time I get very shy, and then as soon as I am faced with, you know, a group of people who just love so deeply what they love, and the fact that we’re all involved in things that you guys love so much, it’s such a beautiful relationship that we get to have with all of you,” he said. “I just feel so lucky. I think we all feel so lucky to get to be a part of your lives in such an intimate and emotionally joyful way.”

Bethel has returned to her role as Bullseye in the Disney+ show “Daredevil: Born Again,” in which Cox plays the titular hero. “Charlie and I just fell back into our dancing positions. I lead and he follows. Coming out of that long period of not doing the show, to returning to it in such a dramatic, physical way, was very cool,” she said, referencing their bloody fight in episode one of the new series.

Gustin, who played Barry Allen/The Flash on the hit CW show “The Flash” from 2014 to 2023, said: “The coolest part of playing a character like this is that, no matter what else you do, you’ll carry it always, because you will forever be a part of that character’s legacy.

“I was 23 when the show started filming,” he added. “And I didn’t know how stressful that would be at times. I had to learn how to handle that stress as I grew up on the show. And I think by the time it was over, I was enjoying it more than ever.”


TikToker Taher Travels connects the Arab world with global audiences

TikToker Taher Travels connects the Arab world with global audiences
Updated 22 October 2025

TikToker Taher Travels connects the Arab world with global audiences

TikToker Taher Travels connects the Arab world with global audiences

DUBAI: Armed with a camera, curiosity and a love of culture, Mohammed Taher — the TikTok creator behind Taher Travels — has turned his passion for exploration into a digital bridge connecting the Arab world with global audiences.

“Since I was a child, I’ve always been fascinated by the world, by different places, people and cultures,” he told Arab News. “I used to imagine what life was like in countries far away. When I finally started traveling, I realized how deeply it was changing me, and I felt the need to share those experiences.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Taher’s videos, shared with his 2.9 million TikTok followers, blend discovery with storytelling. “I wanted to showcase the beauty of Arab culture and values to the world, and at the same time help Arabs discover and understand other cultures with an open mind,” he said.

Travel, for Taher, is more than movement, it is a way to connect worlds and build understanding between cultures, he said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“I always share my experiences from the perspective of an Arab traveler — with curiosity, humility and respect for others,” he said. “Through my content, I want people to see that our Arab culture is full of warmth and humanity, and that these values can travel with us anywhere we go.”

Traveling, he said, has deepened his appreciation for his roots. “It gave me a deeper sense of pride and responsibility to represent it positively wherever I go.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A trip to “remote villages in Asia” especially stayed with him. “The people there had so little, yet they were incredibly happy and generous,” he said.

One of his most viral TikToks was a video showing “simple acts of kindness from locals” during one of his trips, he said. “Viewers love authenticity, especially when it comes from the heart,” he said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“TikTok has allowed me to reach people from all around the world,” he added. “Many viewers from Europe and Asia have written to me saying they were surprised and inspired by Arab culture and hospitality. One comment I’ll never forget was: ‘I never knew Arabs were this kind and humble until I followed you.’

“That meant a lot to me it showed that content can truly change perceptions,” he said.


Bob Vylan frontman defends Glastonbury chant against IDF

Bob Vylan frontman defends Glastonbury chant against IDF
Updated 21 October 2025

Bob Vylan frontman defends Glastonbury chant against IDF

Bob Vylan frontman defends Glastonbury chant against IDF
  • ‘I’d do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays,’ says Bob Vylan
  • Palestinian lives more important than losing US tour, agency

DUBAI: In his first interview since leading chants against the Israeli Defence Forces in support of Palestine at the Glastonbury music festival, Bobby Vylan, the frontman of UK punk duo Bob Vylan, spoke to The Louis Theroux Podcast about the controversy and its fallout.

Following their performance, the band was dropped by its agency, UTA, and the US State Department revoked the band members’ visas, leading to the cancellation of their planned tour of North America.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

But if he had the chance, Vylan says he would do it all again.

“If I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes, I would do it again. I’m not regretful of it. I’d do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays. I’m not regretful of it at all,” the rapper said.

“The subsequent backlash that I’ve faced. It’s minimal. It’s minimal compared to what people in Palestine are going through. (What) is there to regret? Oh, because I’ve upset some right-wing politician or some right-wing media?”

Vylan told Theroux the backlash was “so disproportionate,” arguing that it turned public attention away from Gaza. “My whole issue with this thing is that the chant is so unimportant,” he said.

“What is important is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?”


Cardi B to headline Soundstorm 2025 in Riyadh

Cardi B to headline Soundstorm 2025 in Riyadh
Updated 17 October 2025

Cardi B to headline Soundstorm 2025 in Riyadh

Cardi B to headline Soundstorm 2025 in Riyadh
  • Rap superstar likely to perform songs from latest 23-track album

DUBAI: US rap superstar Cardi B has been confirmed for Soundstorm 2025, the highly anticipated music festival returning to Riyadh this December.

The Grammy-winning artist will perform alongside stars including Lil Yachty, Miguel, Pitbull, Swedish House Mafia, Tyla, Young Thug, Ava Max, Black Coffee and Halsey, with additional acts expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The news follows the release last month of her long-awaited sophomore album “Am I the Drama?”

Fans are anticipating performances from her latest 23-track album, which features collaborations with Janet Jackson, Lizzo, Selena Gomez, Megan Thee Stallion, Cash Cobain, Kehlani, Summer Walker and Tyla.


REVIEW: ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ — Twisty thriller’s gripping plot let down by execution

REVIEW: ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ — Twisty thriller’s gripping plot let down by execution
Updated 17 October 2025

REVIEW: ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ — Twisty thriller’s gripping plot let down by execution

REVIEW: ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ — Twisty thriller’s gripping plot let down by execution

DUBAI: Some predict that advances in AI filmmaking will eventually lead to actors licensing their image and old performances for use in movies that they won’t — in reality — be acting in. The argument against that is that such movies will lack the human connection of actors in the same physical space reacting to each other’s deliveries and sparking that indefinable chemistry that marks the great films.

That argument is deflated somewhat by Netflix’s thriller “The Woman in Cabin 10,” in which a starry cast, led by Keira Knightley and including Guy Pearce and Hannah Waddingham, deliver performances that, despite them presumably being in the same physical space, lack any notable chemistry or conviction.

Knightley plays Laura “Lo” Blacklock, an investigative reporter who works for The Guardian (shorthand for ethical, quality journalist or elitist liberal snowflake, depending where you fall on the Trump-o-meter), currently traumatized by having witnessed the murder of one of her sources. She needs to decompress, and an invitation to cover the maiden voyage of a luxury superyacht — owned by Norwegian billionaire Anne Bullmer and her husband Richard — seems like an ideal opportunity. Anne is dying of lukemia and the yacht will be taking a handful of other billionaires to her final fundraising gala. Oh, and the photographer on the trip is Lo’s ex-boyfriend, Ben.

On the first day, Lo tries to evade Ben by ducking into Cabin 10 — next door to her own cabin — when she spots him in the hallway. There she encounters a blonde woman. Lo apologizes and leaves. That night, having learned that Anne intends to give away her entire fortune to charity, Lo hears shouting from next door. On her balcony, she discovers a bloody handprint on the other side of the glass wall and sees someone in the water. She quickly alerts security. But she’s told there is no guest in Cabin 10 and that all passengers are accounted for. By the time she gets back to her room, the handprint has disappeared. Lo’s credibility — given her recent shock — is called into question. Can she find out the truth?

Yes, the script is thin on character-building (so some slack should be cut for the cast), but the plot is packed with cunning twists and smart solutions, making the story (adapted from Ruth Wade’s 2016 novel) a lot of fun. “The Woman in Cabin 10” should have been so much better.


Nour Arida to front new reality series ‘Confidence is Queen’

Nour Arida to front new reality series ‘Confidence is Queen’
Updated 14 October 2025

Nour Arida to front new reality series ‘Confidence is Queen’

Nour Arida to front new reality series ‘Confidence is Queen’
  • Arida showcases journeys of Arab women
  • Will be ‘disruptive, entertaining,’ says star

DUBAI: Lebanese fashion icon, model and influencer Nour Arida is set to front a new reality series titled “Confidence is Queen.”

The series is a collaboration between Middle East North Africa-based production companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Different Productions, alongside creative agency Read the Room.

The upcoming show will have Arida head a team of mentors guiding a group of Arab women through what producers describe as an “emotional and transformative journey of self-discovery,” tackling themes of confidence, self-worth and empowerment.

The series is a collaboration between Middle East North Africa-based production companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Different Productions, alongside creative agency Read the Room. (Supplied)

The release date for the show has yet to be revealed.

With more than 18 million followers across her social media platforms, Arida has long been known for her authenticity and openness.

In 2023, she was honored with the Arab Woman of the Year award in London, recognizing her advocacy for women’s rights worldwide. She is also the regional brand ambassador for Turkish fashion label Nocturne.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Arida has appeared as the global face of French fine jewelry house Boucheron, fronting multiple campaigns and championing their designs at international fashion events.

“Happy to announce that I’m the official worldwide face of Boucheron,” she said when the partnership was announced in 2020.

Her modeling career includes walking in Paris Fashion Week for brands such as Zadig & Voltaire, Nicolas Jebran and Paco Rabanne. She has also graced numerous international magazine covers and collaborated with beauty and fashion brands including Sephora, Rimmel and MAC.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Reflecting on the new project, Arida said recently: “I know this show is going to be revolutionary on so many levels, and I’m so happy with my partnerships in it.

“Between Front Row, Different, and Read the Room, we’re bringing to the table something disruptive, entertaining and creative all at once.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In a joint statement, Front Row’s Gianluca Chakra and Different Productions’ Mazen Laham added: “‘Confidence is Queen’ is more than a show. It’s a statement.

“Together, we’re blending cinematic craft with raw authenticity to create something powerful, relatable, and real. At its core is Nour Arida, a woman who embodies elegance, vulnerability and unapologetic confidence.”

“She represents a new generation of Arab women unafraid to be both strong and imperfect. That truth is what makes this project not just entertaining, but deeply human and profoundly inspiring,” they added.