Bilal: A New Breed of Hero, an ambitious 2015 cg production produced in United Arab Emirates, is set to bow in U.S. theaters on February 2 through Vertical Entertainment.

A new American trailer was released for the film this week:

Directed by Ayman Jamal and Khurram H. Alavi, the $30 million film was produced largely with funding from private equity investors in the Gulf region, as well as support from the Doha Film Institute. It is the most expensive animated feature ever produced in the region; Jamal, who founded the studio that made the film, Barajoun Entertainment, is a former banker turned film producer.

Here’s the synopsis:

1,400 years ago, Bilal, a seven-year-old boy, with a dream of becoming a great warrior, is abducted into slavery with his sister and taken to a land far away from his home and thrown into a world where corruption and injustice rule all. Throughout his life he undergoes many hardships, through which he discovers an inner strength he did not realize he possessed. Through these experiences, Bilal comes to realize that if he is brave enough to raise his voice and choose his own path – everything becomes possible. It is through his courage, that he frees himself and ultimately his community; it is through the power of his voice and faith that his lifelong dream of freedom comes true. Bilal grows into a man who will inspire the world.

Bilal is based on the life of an African slave Bilal ibn Rabah who was a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. As we’ve pointed out before, it’s a religious film that tries to play down its religious aspects to appeal to a broader audience outside of the Middle East. Religious or not, its biggest challenge in the U.S. will simply be making audiences aware of its existence as there is currently little visibility aorund the title.

The film is rated PG-13.

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