The buzz around Monica Bellucci speaks on playing antagonist Julia Leone in 7 Dogs: “I am not used to action scenes” refuses to die down. From social media chatter to box office projections, everyone in the industry seems to have an opinion — and the latest update only strengthens the conversation.
The Story So Far
Add as a preferred source on Google Italian performer Monica Bellucci is set to make her presence felt in the highly anticipated Arabic action movie 7 Dogs, which is scheduled to arrival in Indian cinemas on August 21. Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the movie brings together actors from different movie industries, including Egyptian features Karim Abdel Aziz and Ahmed Ezz, along with Bellucci, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Martin Lawrence and Giancarlo Esposito.
Bellucci portrays Julia Leone, a powerful crime figure who operates across Europe and remains one step ahead of the authorities. For the performer, the project offered an opportunity to explore a part and genre that were relatively fresh to her. 7 Dogs marked Bellucci's first experience working in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking about the production, she recalled being impressed by the scale of the project and the facilities. “The organisation was amazing and this was my first time there in Saudi Arabia. I felt really that I was in a major movie with great possibilities,” she said.
The movie is directed by El Arbi and Fallah, who previously collaborated on Hollywood action captures including Bad Boys for Life and Bad Boys: Ride or Die. Their involvement also attracted Bellucci to the project, particularly because of their approach to large-scale action. Bellucci described Julia Leone as a departure from the kind of roles she has traditionally taken on, particularly because of the amount of action involved.
“I am not used to action moments, so it was a kind of fresh experience. It was fun and interesting to play this woman in power and control,” she said. Rather than approaching Julia simply as a villain, Bellucci said she chose to understand the part without judging her actions.
For her, that process was an important part of playing an antagonist. “When you play an antagonist like Julia Leone, you have to refrain from judging her and just enjoy stepping into a different skin. Actually, this is the work of an performer,” she said.
According to Bellucci, 7 Dogs does not remain within the boundaries of a conventional action thriller. She described the movie as a combination of action, thriller and comedy, with a visual style that sometimes resembles a comic book. “I love their work because they bring that energy on major screen and on set,” Bellucci said about the directors.
“It is a mix of genres. It is a thriller, an action movie, but sometimes it is also like a comic book, like a cartoon, with hints of comedy.” She also applauded her Egyptian co-features Karim Abdel Aziz and Ahmed Ezz, describing them as “so generous and so nice” to work with.
As the story continues to develop, TeraMovies will keep you updated with every new detail. Until then, this remains one of the most closely watched entertainment stories of the week — and the conversation is only getting started.
