Lebanese actress Laurette Hanino joins Iran’s “Stranger”

TEHRAN, Nov. 29 (MNA) -- Celebrated Lebanese actress Laurette Hanino has joined the cast of “The Stranger”, an Iranian spy thriller that will be directed by Hamid Bahmani. The story of the film is set in Iraq. Hanino will play Julia, a U.S. army member who is trying to deliver some secret documents to her journalist friend. Hanino arrived in Tehran on Monday. Shooting begins today at the Sacred Defense Cinematic Town, a location where Iranian war films are usually shot. The Avini Art and Cultural Institute will produce the film with the help of the Farabi Cinematic Foundation of Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Iranian actor Mohammadreza Sharifinia is the casting director of the project. Jamshid Hashempur, Kurosh Tahami and Fakhreddin Sediqsharif are other members of the cast. Over past five years, Iranian filmmakers and producers have begun to hire world-celebrated actresses to boost box office receipts. Hanino’s compatriot Darine Hamze starred in “Saturday’s Hunter”, anti-Zionist Iranian film which is currently on screen in Iranian theaters. She had previously acted in “The Book of Law” by Iranian director Maziar Miri. In early October, Iranian producer Ali Sartipi said that he is in negotiations to hire American actress Angelina Jolie for “Scandal”, a film project that would be directed by Masud Dehnamaki in Iran. However, Dehnamaki refused to accept Sartipi’s plan for hiring Jolie who is one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood.