Syrian actor Samer Ismail, who was most recently seen starring opposite Jeremy Irons in the Saudi horror film THE CELLO, has signed on with MAD Celebrity, the Arab world’s leading talent management and promotional agency where he joins a roster of more than 60 top-tier creative talents. 
 
Named in 2016 as one of five Arab Stars of Tomorrow by Screen International, Ismail first made his name in television with the MBC series OMAR, in which he played the title character in the highly successful and elaborately produced Arab TV show. This series was followed by the lead role for Ismail in the sci-fi thriller THE WORTHY, directed by British Emirati filmmaker Ali F. Mustafa, which had its world premiere at the London Film Festival in 2016.
 
 A graduate of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Damascus, Ismail also starred in the award-winning film THE DAY I LOST MY SHADOW by Soudade Kaadan, as well as numerous high-profile Ramadan TV series, including the Syrian social drama series WLAD BADEEA and Jordanian Ramadan drama OBOOR opposite Saba Mubarak and Tara Abboud. He also had roles in THE PLATFORM, BREAKING BONES, TUESDAY 12, DOWNTOWN, IN PARADOX, SALASEL ZAHAB, BORN FROM THE FLANK, and ONCE AGAIN. 
 
MAD Celebrity — a division of the Cairo-based MAD Solutions — will be exclusively responsible for representing Ismail in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in contracts with production companies and advertising agencies, as well as in dealings with various media outlets. 
 
Several of MAD Celebrity’s longstanding clients, including trailblazing Egyptian superstar Yousra and the much-in-demand actor Ahmed Malek, will be at the Cannes Film Festival this year for several talent-focused panel discussion events organized by MAD Solutions and its sister organization, the Arab Cinema Center.
 
Those events include the Talent Hotbed: How Arab Artists and Artisans are Conquering the Entertainment World panel, which features an array of talents both in front and behind the camera discussing the opportunities and challenges they face in making their mark on the international stage. Speakers include Egyptian cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef, Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha, Jordanian film composer Suad Bushnaq, and TV host Raya Abirached — all of whom are MAD clients.
 
 Additionally, MAD Celebrity is joining forces with Cannes NEXT to present a showcase of MENA talents in a May 17th session called MAD Celebrities: Meet the Industry’s Movers and Makers from MENA. MAD Celebrity clients involved in that showcase include music composer Khaled Al Kammar, costume designer Reem El Adl as well as seven new generation actors and actresses.
 
Ismail is the latest prominent actor to join this very selective blue-chip client list. His 2023 CELLO was directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, who has won international awards for his films ABATTOIR, REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA, and TALES OF HALLOWEEN. The film is written by Turki Al-Sheikh and co-stars Jeremy Irons, who won an Oscar for Best Actor for his role in the film REVERSAL OF FORTUNE, and Tobin Bell - known for the TV series DAYS OF OUR LIVES and the film SAW - in addition to Arab stars Mila Al-Zahrani, Mohannad Al-Hamdi, and Elham Ali.