//Skip to content
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Netflix Buys Rights to Israeli Film on the ‘Egyptian Spy Who Saved Israel’

July 28, 2017
Marwan shaking hands with Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser during his wedding to Nasser’s daughter in 1966.

Netflix has bought the rights to the Israeli thriller Hamalach (The Angel) by Israeli director Ariel Vromen.

According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the film’s script is based on the book The Angel: Ashraf Marwan, the Mossad and the Surprise of the Yom Kippur War by Uri Bar-Joseph. The book, published originally in Hebrew, was later published in English as The Angel: The Egyptian Spy Who Saved Israel.

The film, which is set to complete shooting by August 2018, is based on Egyptian national Ashraf Marwan. Marwan was an Egyptian billionaire and the husband of Mona Gamal Abdel Nasser, the daughter of Egypt’s former President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

According to Haaretz, the film will feature a number of Israeli and European actors. Haaretz reports that Israeli actor Sasson Gabai will play Anwar El Sadat and that Marwan will be played by Dutch actor Marwan Kenzari.

Marwan served in the Presidential Office under Nasser and later Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat. In 2002, it was revealed by Israeli historian Ahron Bregman that Marwan spied for Israel for many decades and even warned Israel of Egypt’s surprise attack on Yom Kippur, which occurred on 6 October 1973.

Marwan’s warning reportedly triggered an emergency Israeli military mobilization that allowed the Israelis to be somewhat prepared when the Egyptians launched the surprise attack on 6 October. It is thought that this warning prevented Israel from losing the Golan Heights and other territories.

In response to the allegations, Egypt has long claimed that Marwan was actually a double agent who worked to deceive Israel. Up until his death, Marwan never confirmed whether this was the case.

Marwan was found dead on 27 June 2007 outside his residence in Carlton House Terrace in London. Many believe Marwan was pushed from the balcony of his fifth-floor apartment. However, this has never been confirmed.

Comments (0)