Renowned Australian director Phillip Noyce has entered into a financial arrangement with the Saudi government to produce a film that presents the nation’s narcotics officers as heroic figures. Titled The Watchful Eyes, the movie draws inspiration from a genuine case involving the Saudi Ministry of Interior’s narcotics division and is promoted as a dramatic portrayal of the “valor of security personnel in the fight against drugs.”

In 2022, Saudi authorities executed 356 individuals, with 243 of those executions linked to drug offenses. Analysts indicate that the rising execution rate in the kingdom is primarily driven by its ongoing “war on drugs.” Noyce’s illustrious career spans several decades, featuring notable works such as the 1970s film Newsfront, as well as Dead Calm, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, and The Bone Collector.

Filming for The Watchful Eyes commenced in Saudi Arabia last December, with plans for the film to debut later this year. According to the Saudi Gazette, the project will be filmed entirely within the kingdom and aims to provide a compelling artistic narrative that underscores the bravery of Saudi security forces while showcasing their efforts to combat crime to a global audience.

Noyce, now 76, has been accompanied during his filming by Turki al-Sheikh, a royal adviser facing numerous allegations of human rights abuses, including the detention of dissenters on social media. Al-Sheikh, who chairs the General Entertainment Authority, is recognized for his international efforts to enhance Saudi Arabia’s presence in the global boxing arena and to expand its influence in international football.

A close associate of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Al-Sheikh has shared various images and videos featuring “the great director Phillip Noyce,” describing The Watchful Eyes as a film “inspired by true events from the case files of Saudi Arabia’s drug enforcement officers.” Noyce expressed that he accepted the project for the challenge it presented and the chance to explore a previously insular society, though he did not comment on the ethical implications of creating a film funded by the Saudi regime.

Joey Shea, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch focusing on Saudi Arabia, remarked that the government utilizes substantial investments in sports and entertainment as a strategy to obscure its human rights violations. “Considering the film’s subject matter and the public information available, along with the extensive rights abuses tied to the Saudi government’s renewed war on drugs, it is deeply troubling how these narratives may serve to mask the reality of recent executions,” Shea stated.

Officials have characterized The Watchful Eyes as a “massive production” and a “grand Saudi epic.” Noyce noted that the film is being financed and produced by the Saudi entertainment company Sela, which is supported by the Public Investment Fund, the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, and aims to enhance the local film industry.

The regime’s objectives include transforming Saudi Arabia into a prominent global production hub as part of Prince Mohammed’s Vision 2030 initiative, which seeks to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil revenues. Noyce has termed The Watchful Eyes a “low-budget kidnapping thriller,” stating, “It is gritty and raw and filmed entirely in Arabic; I doubt it will attract tourists to Saudi Arabia.”

When questioned about the nation’s human rights practices and the executions related to drug offenses, Noyce commented, “I suppose the story could be edited to convey an anti-drug message, but the narrative I captured was from the highly emotional perspective of the lead detective searching for a missing child. Interestingly, Sela never once interfered with the creative process.”

In March, the BBC faced criticism for producing “glossy propaganda films” after its commercial division collaborated with Saudi interests. Jeed Basyouni, a researcher on the death penalty in the region for the NGO Reprieve, pointed out that the number of executions in Saudi Arabia continues to rise, while officials promote a misleading image of the country. “It is crucial for the world to recognize this rebranding for what it truly is—a superficial effort to mask severe human rights abuses,” she asserted. “Culture-washing aims to legitimize the human rights violations perpetrated by the Saudi regime, using the arts, humor, and film to depict a tolerant government, while in reality, anyone who offends those in power risks severe consequences.”

The Public Investment Fund has invested over $5 billion in the LIV Golf Tour since 2021, but funding is set to end this year, partly due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.