Award-winning filmmaker Walid Chaya is developing a bold new romantic comedy that bridges continents, cultures, and identities. Crazy Rich Arabs, co-written by Chaya and fellow writer Jimmy Monack, is a vibrant, character-driven feature film set between Beirut and Los Angeles. Currently in early development and seeking production partners, the film offers a fresh take on love, family, and the complicated ways we define success and selfhood.
Chaya first gained attention for Driving Ms. Saudi, a viral satirical short that boldly addressed gender and social norms in the Middle East. He is also known for his work on hit television series such as Blacklist: Redemption and for directing the acclaimed short Darn It Darla! (recently awarded “Best Comedy Short” at the Love Wins International Film Festival). Across his body of work, Chaya draws from personal experience and cultural insight to create stories that are at once entertaining and socially resonant.
Crazy Rich Arabs follows twin brothers who have led very different lives. One is a hotshot Arab-American lawyer and unapologetic womanizer thriving in Los Angeles; the other is a closeted Lebanese musician living in Beirut, quietly suppressing his identity to meet family expectations. When the Beirut-based brother travels to Los Angeles for an arranged marriage planned by his mother, the twins unexpectedly cross paths at a local falafel shop—each sent there by the parent they know. The surprise reunion sparks a spontaneous decision to switch places, leading to a whirlwind week of mistaken identities, clashing values, and personal revelations. As secrets come to light and egos collide, the brothers must confront what they’ve been hiding—not just from each other, but from themselves—before the wedding day arrives.
“This is a comedy first, but it’s built on a real emotional core,” says Chaya. “There’s an authenticity to these characters and this world that I haven’t seen represented before in a mainstream rom-com. I wanted to create something unapologetically Arab, but universally human.”
With echoes of Crazy Rich Asians and The Parent Trap, Chaya’s film Crazy Rich Arabs blends aspirational luxury and sharp humor with heartfelt themes of identity, queerness, and cultural duality. It speaks not just to Arab or LGBTQ+ audiences, but to anyone who’s ever felt caught between two worlds—or two versions of themselves.
Walid Chaya is also the founder of Studio For Performing Arts LA and Moonlit Wings Productions, where he has long championed underrepresented voices through mentorship and original works. With Crazy Rich Arabs, he’s taking his mission to the next level, inviting collaborators who believe in both commercial potential and meaningful storytelling.
“The industry is finally opening up to more global and inclusive narratives,” he adds. “This story deserves to be part of that wave—it’s funny, it’s bold, and it’s time.”
Chaya is currently in talks with early collaborators and open to producer attachments. For more information, follow instagram.com/walid.chaya and visit crazyricharabsmovie.com.
