Black Gold – Behind The Scenes
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We get a first look at Antonio Banderas in Jean-Jacques Annaud‘s upcoming adaptation of Hans Reusch’s “The Great Thirst,” which is being touted as the biggest Arab-backed film production of all time.

Titled Black Gold, the epic tale will follow the ‘30’s-set rivalry between two Emirs in Arabia just as oil is being discovered while a young dynamic leader begins to attempt uniting the various tribes of the desert kingdoms.

In this CNN clip we see Banderas playing Nessib, one of the two rival Emirs. Menno Meyjes (Empire Of The Sun, Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade) scripted the adaptation outlined by Annaud and Alain Godard, with filming still taking place. Having shot since October in Tunisia, the production recently moved to Qatar where they will “shoot battles scenes for four weeks in the desert dunes of Mesaieed.”

“I am delighted to have started filming in Qatar,” producer Tarak Ben Ammar announced. “We are filming in some of the world’s most stunning desert landscapes and that will help ‘Black Gold’ look even more spectacular. Also, filming here gives me the opportunity to support and encourage the Doha Film Institute’s vision of building a sustainable film infrastructure in the country.”

There are plans to release the film at Christmas 2011 but nothing is set in stone.