Ashanti began as a troubled international production almost immediately after cameras started rolling in Kenya in April 1978. Richard C. Sarafian had originally been hired to direct a major adventure film starring Michael Caine, Omar Sharif, Peter Ustinov, and Telly Savalas, but only two weeks into filming he was fired and replaced by veteran director Richard Fleischer. The upheaval did not stop with the director: female lead Beverly Todd and the cinematographer were also dismissed, while Savalas ultimately withdrew from the picture. Fleischer then arranged for the screenplay to be rewritten, bringing in George MacDonald Fraser—later known for his historical adventure adaptations—to strengthen Sharif's part as Prince Hassan. The result was effectively a partially reconstructed film, assembled through changes in director, cast, cinematography, and script while the production was already operating across demanding locations in Kenya, the Sahara, Israel, and Sicily. Despite its expensive international cast and sweeping locations, Ashanti was badly received on release, and Michael Caine later identified it among what he considered his three worst films, alongside The Magus and The Swarm.
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AI concept artworkArchive Record · 1970s
The Two-Week Directorial Revolt That Reshaped Ashanti
Ashanti / 1970s
Ashanti began as a troubled international production almost immediately after cameras started rolling in Kenya in April 1978. Richard C. Sarafian had originally been hired to direct a major adventure film starring Michael Caine, Omar Sharif, Peter Ustinov, and Telly Savalas, but only two weeks into filming he was fired and replaced by veteran director Richard Fleischer. The upheaval did not stop with the director: female lead Beverly Todd and the cinematographer were also dismissed, while Savalas ultimately withdrew from the picture. Fleischer then arranged for the screenplay to be rewritten, bringing in George MacDonald Fraser—later known for his historical adventure adaptations—to strengthen Sharif's part as Prince Hassan. The result was effectively a partially reconstructed film, assembled through changes in director, cast, cinematography, and script while the production was already operating across demanding locations in Kenya, the Sahara, Israel, and Sicily. Despite its expensive international cast and sweeping locations, Ashanti was badly received on release, and Michael Caine later identified it among what he considered his three worst films, alongside The Magus and The Swarm.
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