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Sabrina Elba Joins Cast of Scythia Films’ ‘Nuur’ From Director Lula Ali Ismaïl

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Sabrina Elba (Three Thousand Years of Longing) has joined the cast of Nuur, the upcoming feature from director Lula Ali Ismaïl (Dhalinyaro), Scythia Films announced Thursday.

Adapted from Hassan Ghedi Santur’s novel The Youth of God, Nuur follows the story of a sensitive and academically gifted 17-year-old boy growing up in Toronto’s Somali community in Dixon. Torn between his faith, intellectual aspirations, and complicated family dynamics, Nuur embarks on a perilous journey that explores themes of migration, identity, and belonging.

Elba will portray Haawo, Nuur’s resilient Somali mother, who is struggling with the challenges of cultural displacement and family turmoil. Once a flight attendant in Mogadishu and married to a prominent architect, Haawo’s life takes a difficult turn after emigrating to Canada. Now working a dead-end job at Walmart and dealing with depression after a failed marriage, she clings to the hope of reuniting with her estranged husband. However, when Nuur disappears, Haawo’s dormant strength resurfaces as she sets out to bring her son home.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play Haawo in Nuur, a role that means so much to me,” Elba said in a statement. “It’s a privilege to work alongside the talented and inspiring Lula Ali Ismaïl, whose collaboration has been nothing short of amazing. It’s truly an honor to be part of such a meaningful project.”

Elba joins previously announced cast members Omar Abdi (The Gravedigger’s Wife) and Hamza Fouad (Riverdale, Arrow).

Nuur is being produced by Daniel Bekerman (The Apprentice, The Witch), Chris Yurkovich (Slash/Back), and Neil Mathieson (The Apprentice, Matt and Mara) of Arbitrage Pictures. Jordan Hart (I, Object) serves as executive producer for Scythia Films, alongside Michael Bronner (The Mauritanian, Captain Phillips) and Bhakti Shringarpure for Smashing Dandelions. Steve Alexander (The Secret Art of Human Flight) and Idylia Hachi are also on board as executive producers. Telefilm Canada is among the project’s funding partners.


Beyond her acting work, Elba has made a name for herself as a producer and humanitarian. She was appointed a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in 2020 and has since focused her efforts on advocating for rural women and girls globally.


Casting for additional roles in Nuur is currently underway.

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