Asim Abbasi’s upcoming directorial is a British Muslim horror comedy series

With Nimra Bucha’s Polite Society, Sajal Aly’s What’s Love Got To Do With It? and Ahad Raza Mir’s BBC drama, Pakistani artists are clearly ruling the globe. Joining the list is the British-Pakistani filmmaker Asim Abbasi, treading new grounds with a horror comedy.

The Cake director unveiled the poster for his upcoming British Muslim comedy series titled Count Abdulla, set to air on ITVX, on Instagram. “Human Juice. 100% Certified Halal. 15th June,” he wrote. The star-studded cast includes Arian Nik from the popular show The Bay, along with Jaime Winstone and Nina Wadia.

Earlier this week, while announcing his upcoming film on the photo-sharing app, he described the “bizarro horror-comedy” series as one that “celebrates brownness and cracks open otherness in ways seldom seen on British telly.” He wrote, “You will laugh till your fangs flick out. Grateful to the producers and commissioners who brought me in to direct this. Grateful to the actors and crew who stuck with me through it all. Here’s to always being authors and heroes of our stories in the times to come.”

Count Abdulla is a six-part horror comedy that takes audiences on a thrilling ride. The story revolves around Abdulla Khan (played by Nik), a young Muslim doctor grappling with an existential crisis. Caught between his religiously devout mother and his secular, pleasure-seeking friends, Abdulla's life takes an unexpected turn when he gets bitten by the mischievous vampire character played by Jaime Winstone. From there, a hilarious and adventurous journey ensues.

Abbasi, known for his previous directorial work on the acclaimed series Churails for Zee5 and the hit film Cake in 2018, is at the helm of Count Abdulla. His unique storytelling and ability to captivate audiences have earned him a well-deserved reputation. Abbasi has also directed the highly-anticipated series Barzakh, featuring actors Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed.

Count Abdulla has been penned by Kaamil Shah, while the series is being produced by Hussain Casey Ahmed and Fudge Park Productions. Phil Gilbert takes on the role of executive producer. Fans eagerly anticipate the series' release on June 15, when they will be treated to an enthralling blend of horror and comedy, brought to life by a talented cast and crew.

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