Tunisian actor Dhafer L’abidine is set to star in the American TV series 40 North (also titled The Looming Tower), based on Laurence Wright’s Pulitzer awarded work The Looming Tower.

The Looming Tower is a historical work which chronicles and investigates the rise of Al Qaeda and the events that led to the September 11 attacks.

The television series, produced by Hulu, and starring Alec Baldwin, Jeff Daniels, Samer Bisharat and Tahar Rahim, is currently in production and set for release by late 2017.

Filming wil take place between the USA and South Africa.

Born in 1972, Dhafer L’Abidine is a Tunisian actor and former soccer player. He graduated from the Birmingham School of Acting, and made his debut in the United Kingdom, starring in the British series Dream Team, on which he remained for two seasons.

He rose to prominence in Tunisia after playing the role of Dali in the television series Maktoub. He has since starred in a number of Arab dramas, notably in Egypt and the UAE.

In 2015, he was awarded Best Actor in an Egyptian Drama for his role on the popular television show Taht El Saytara, in which he starred alongside prominent actress Nelly Karim. 

Most recently, the Tunisian actor appeared in two of last Ramadan’s TV series, Halawat Al Donia and Caramel.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts  and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture