Saudi Ministry of Media Launches Documentary, ‘Horizon’, on Netflix

The documentary is the latest work of the Konoz Productive, Artistic and Visual Initiative. (SPA)
The documentary is the latest work of the Konoz Productive, Artistic and Visual Initiative. (SPA)
TT
20

Saudi Ministry of Media Launches Documentary, ‘Horizon’, on Netflix

The documentary is the latest work of the Konoz Productive, Artistic and Visual Initiative. (SPA)
The documentary is the latest work of the Konoz Productive, Artistic and Visual Initiative. (SPA)

Konoz, an initiative of the Saudi Ministry of Media's Center for Government Communication (CGC), released a new documentary called "Horizon" that, in collaboration with the National Center for Wildlife, highlights the abundance of wildlife and natural resources in Saudi Arabia.

 

The documentary is currently available on Netflix.

 

The documentary is the latest work of the Konoz Productive, Artistic and Visual Initiative and aims to raise awareness of the Kingdom's biodiversity, unique geographical areas, and efforts to protect wildlife, preserve rare species.

 

The documentary showcases a wide range of fungal organisms in their natural habitat, from the plains to the mountains and the sea to the valleys. Viewers will also spot dugongs, dolphins, the Arabian leopard, deer, and oryx.

 

The film also gives an extraordinary look at the ecological diversity of the Kingdom, with its varied terrain and regions defined by different climates, allowing for the peaceful cohabitation of over 10,000 species of animals.

 

The documentary takes viewers on a visual tour of five different elements—marine ecosystems, mountains, deserts, humans, and nature—before offering a peek into the potential future uses of the Kingdom's abundant natural resources.

 

The filming process lasted over 200 days and involved a specialized crew of 50 individuals who travelled over 4,700 km to film in 28 different locations across the Kingdom, including Riyadh, Tabuk, Taif, AlUla, Farasan Islands, and other regions. Additionally, 13 Saudi researchers with expertise in wildlife contributed to the documentary.

 

Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari said: "Many of the secrets of wildlife in the Kingdom are presented to the world by the documentary ‘Horizon’.”

 

The documentary is available in Arabic and English.

 

One of the aims of the Kingdom Vision 2030 is to ensure that the Kingdom's environmental sector is well-developed and protected. The National Center for Wildlife has in recent years played a key role in this effort, underscoring the Kingdom's dedication to its natural heritage and drawing attention to the beautiful and scenic resources.



'Superman' Director James Gunn Remakes the Hero for the Big Screen

FILE PHOTO: Director James Gunn poses at a photo call for the film Superman in Culver City, California, US, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Director James Gunn poses at a photo call for the film Superman in Culver City, California, US, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo
TT
20

'Superman' Director James Gunn Remakes the Hero for the Big Screen

FILE PHOTO: Director James Gunn poses at a photo call for the film Superman in Culver City, California, US, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Director James Gunn poses at a photo call for the film Superman in Culver City, California, US, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo

James Gunn, writer and director of the off-kilter "Guardians of the Galaxy" films, tussled with various ideas on how to deliver a new take on Superman to the big screen.

Gunn said he was aware of the many ways the noble hero had been approached since his 1938 debut, initially in comic books and then radio serials, television shows and movies.

The challenge was to deliver something fresh that would appeal to a new generation of moviegoers and reinvigorate Warner Bros Discovery's DC Studios.

His vision, in the movie titled simply "Superman," starts rolling out in international theaters on Wednesday and in the United States and Canada on Friday, Reuters reported.

In the opening scene, Superman, played for the first time by David Corenswet, is seen bloodied after a fight, an unusual portrayal for the Man of Steel.

"I wanted to take the character of Superman and just focus on a piece of him that we haven't necessarily seen before," Gunn said.

Gunn surrounded Superman with elements that enthralled him from the comics as a child. Superman lives in a world, Gunn said, with "superhero friends and giant monsters and flying dogs, robots and all this magical stuff."

The new film includes Superman's four-legged sidekick, a superpowered dog named Krypto first introduced in a 1955 comic. The latest version is based on Gunn's real-life, misbehaving rescue mutt.

Warner Bros is counting on "Superman" to start a new era at DC Studios, which has failed to match the superhero success of Walt Disney-owned Marvel. Gunn, who made the "Guardians" movies for Marvel, was named co-CEO of DC Studios, alongside producer Peter Safran, in 2022.

The pair have plotted a long-term slate that features a Supergirl movie for June 2026, a film based on Swamp Thing and TV shows for HBO Max. Wonder Woman and Batman also are expected to return to cinemas.

Gunn said the aesthetic that audiences see in "Superman" will not necessarily foreshadow future DC Studios endeavors. "I want to be really certain that every project has its own unique flavor," Gunn said.

"We're doing Clayface, and that doesn't feel like this movie. It's an R-rated horror movie. We're doing 'Lanterns,' which is an HBO show, which feels very much like an HBO show, very grounded, very kind of brutal. We have 'Peacemaker,' which is an adult show with a lot of emotion and a lot of comedy."

Gunn admitted he has felt the weight of responsibility to produce a hit.
"I've felt pressure all along," Gunn said. "That's been difficult."

But as he started to see initial reaction to the film, "I'm feeling pretty good," he said. "It's pretty fun. I'm seeing the effect the movie has on people."