Photo Courtesy of Momo Assad
The global entertainment industry faces a critical paradox: While streaming platforms demand diverse content, the talent pipeline remains narrow. Studios report that nearly three-quarters of international co-productions fail due to cultural miscommunication and casting limitations. Momo Assad, a multilingual actor whose career spans three continents, suggests a different path forward for cross-border storytelling.
Assad’s upcoming project in India represents more than another credit. His journey from Rome to Los Angeles, and now to South India, illustrates how modern performers must navigate multiple markets simultaneously. His recent HBO debut on “The Rehearsal” Season 2 with Nathan Fielder positioned him within American television’s experimental landscape, while his Shakespeare festival work demonstrates classical training depth.
International box office revenue accounts for 65% of Hollywood’s total earnings, while just 12% of leading roles go to actors capable of authentic multicultural performance. Assad’s fluency in Italian, English, Arabic and Spanish places him within an exclusive cohort equipped for this reality.
Cultural Bridge-Building Through Performance
Rome’s entertainment district has experienced unusual activity in recent years. High-profile visitors including Adam Sandler, Jude Law, Andy Garcia and Mel Gibson regularly frequent establishments where Assad has created what industry insiders describe as “a nexus for international talent.” This networking advantage stems from his family’s hospitality legacy: five restaurants in central Rome that serve as informal gathering places for entertainment professionals.
Assad’s involvement at the Ischia Global Film Festival extended beyond red carpet appearances. His roles as presenter, interviewer and logistics coordinator demonstrated his ability to operate among senior industry professionals. The position required helping translate and conduct premieres for American and international stars including Alessandro Bertolazzi and Franco Nero. During the festival, Assad delivered a panel discussion about challenges facing actors from Italy working in the U.S. market.
His upcoming appearance at the Venice Film Festival represents a significant milestone, joining the RAI Felicitá team in celebrating a new chapter of artistic collaboration and cultural visibility on an international stage, representing the new generation of actors carrying italian heritage across various markets.
Assad’s production team recently acquired rights to “Una Folgore tra le Tenebre: Il Medio Normanno in Sicilia” by Domenico Arezzo Pagano, a historical work that gained recognition at the Salone Internazionale del Libro di Torino. The book became one of the fair’s most appreciated titles among works inspired by Medieval Sicily, offering fresh material in a landscape dominated by remakes and sequels.
Established Los Angeles Presence and Classical Training
Since establishing himself in Los Angeles in 2021, Assad has integrated into California’s entertainment community. His work has extended throughout Hollywood, North Hollywood, West Hollywood and Irvine, with projects reaching toward New York.
Assad’s conservatory training at The Art of Acting Studio LA provided the classical foundation that distinguishes him as a versatile performer. His Shakespeare work merits particular recognition, having collaborated extensively with Beth Lopes, a director who has helmed virtually every play in the Shakespeare canon. Assad worked under her direction as Paris and Patroclus in “Troilus and Cressida” before joining the award-winning New Swan Shakespeare Festival for a three-month engagement.
Assad’s principal roles as Curio in “Twelfth Night” and Lucio in “Measure for Measure” both earned Orange Curtain award recognition.
Strategic Industry Collaborations
His collaboration with Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree Niki Koss on multiple films alongside Kirk Foxx, Taylor Gray and Audrey Cymone demonstrates his integration within Hollywood’s emerging talent network. Their film “Daisy” screened at prestigious venues including the TCL Chinese Theatre and secured a showing at HollyShorts.
Working with Nico Fulton Lavachek, grandson of three-time Academy Award winner John P. Fulton, has produced multiple film collaborations with additional projects in development. Assad has also worked with Jeffrey Ashkin, an industry professional with four awards and 17 nominations.
Assad has succeeded in Los Angeles’ immersive theater scene, particularly as Dominic ‘Dom La Salle in the “Murder Mystery Soirée” at Rita House. His lead performance as El-Fayoumi in “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot,” directed by Bryan Keith, required the character to remain on stage for two hours. The production ran for a month in West Hollywood, allowing Assad to explore his Arabic heritage on stage.
Expanding into South Indian Cinema
The South India project represents strategic expansion into one of cinema’s fastest-growing markets. South Indian cinema has experienced unprecedented global success, with films like “RRR” and “Baahubali” demonstrating the region’s storytelling influence internationally. Assad’s casting in this production, currently in pre-production with Sanjeev Sivan, Deepti Pillay Sivan and award-winning Santosh Sivan, suggests studios recognize the value of truly international performers.
This project stems from Assad’s high-level diplomatic connections within the Indian entertainment sector. The Indian Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Minister Murugan, personally invited Assad to the Cannes Film Festival, providing accreditation through the Indian delegation. This invitation culminated in Assad walking the red carpet at Cannes and receiving coverage in Hollywood Reporter India. Assad also received an invitation from the Governor of West Bengal to stay at the prestigious Raj Bhavan in Kolkata, where he will collaborate with the Governor’s son, Vasudev Bose, on future projects.
Growing up in Rome, speaking Italian and Arabic at home and receiving English-language education, Assad developed authentic cultural fluency. Casting directors increasingly seek performers who can authentically represent multiple backgrounds while moving beyond stereotypical portrayals.
Assad’s recognition as an “Emerging Star” at the Ischia Global Film Festival validates his rising status within Italian entertainment circles. This recognition positions him as “IL NUOVO VOLTO PER IL CINEMA,” the new face of cinema, within Italian media coverage.
Industry Future and Global Impact
Assad’s approach may become standard in an increasingly connected industry. The convergence of streaming platforms, international co-production financing and audience demand for authentic diverse content creates opportunities for performers capable of genuine cross-cultural work.
His South India debut will serve as a significant test case, demonstrating whether this internationally-minded approach can translate into sustained career success across multiple markets. Assad’s commitment to “creating stories that allow people to grow as a person and as an artist” reflects his philosophy that representation carries responsibility.
The entertainment industry’s future belongs to those who can build bridges across cultures while maintaining artistic integrity. Assad’s career trajectory suggests that the next generation of international stars will emerge from performers bold enough to create their own multicultural networks and opportunities.
