Fan Casting Ghazi: The Young Lion of Iraq

The film opens in the rugged, vast deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, where Ghazi ibn Faisal, born in Mecca, is raised in a world of tradition and upheaval. The son of the charismatic Faisal I, who won and lost the Kingdom of Syria before being crowned Iraq’s first king, Ghazi comes of age with a sense of destiny and burden. Inheriting the throne of Iraq at only 21, he dreams of a modern Arab kingdom, independent and free from British control. But the pressures on Ghazi mount rapidly. He faces fierce opposition from British advisers who try to keep Iraq under colonial influence, ambitious local leaders who question his youth, and his inner circle, which doubts his ability to lead. Amid it all, he became a folk hero to the Iraqi people, using radio broadcasts to rally national pride and openly challenge British influence in Iraq. Yet, Ghazi’s ambitions lead him into dangerous territory. As he navigates his desire to unite the Arab world with the ruthless realities of royal power, he faces betrayal, isolation, and rumors of intrigue. His young life comes to a tragic end in a mysterious car crash in 1939, leaving his dream of an independent Iraq unfulfilled but setting the stage for the nation's fierce struggle for self-determination.