Tinley Actor And TikTok Star Signs His First Major Movie Deal

TINLEY PARK, IL — A local actor and popular TikTok star signed a major movie deal with Pomegranate Pictures. Ismail Taher, 26 of Tinley Park, will partake in his first lead role in his career.

"Pomegranate Pictures is pleased to announce the attachment of Ismail Taher to co-star in the 2021 production of 'Pomegranate,'" writer-director Weam Namou said. “Ismail did his homework and knew the character he was auditioning for so well that he fell perfectly into the role with the very first line he spoke at the audition. We’re very excited to have him aboard.”

"Pomegranate" is based on Namou's childhood experiences immigrating from Iraq to the United States and then as an adult living through the presidential election of 2016. Consequently, "Pomegranate" is the story about how — in the weeks before the election of Donald Trump in 2016 — a young, politically liberal, Iraqi Muslim immigrant struggles to find her footing in a neighborhood of well-to-do, politically conservative, Iraqi Christians, while battling her family’s fears of deprivation and demands of loyalty to Muslim traditions.

Taher will play the role of Ali Al Mousawi, main character Niran’s handsome but mischievous brother, who also wants to get a job and move out of the house. Always optimistic, he enjoys teasing Niran about her poetry, fake Facebook posts and the incongruity of her tight clothes and the loose hijab. A laid-back wannabe playboy who has eyes on Mary, the Christian neighbor, Ali riles his strict Muslim family with claims that he’s an atheist.

Taher is a first-generation Chicago-based, Palestinian-American actor and influencer. His mother was born in Palestine and moved to America at 13, while his father was born in America and spent a majority of his childhood in Palestine.

Consequently, Taher grew up in a house that was rooted in Middle Eastern culture, food and media. As a kid he would visit Palestine to see family and friends every two years.

“I’m extremely grateful to be both Arab and American,” Taher said.

When it comes to the audition process, the actor said he read through the lines hundreds of times before his audition.

"This means everything to me. Ever since I took the leap into the acting world I wanted to be the lead in a film," Taher said.

The actor said the script appeals to him as he can identify with the characters, being Middle Eastern himself. Taher said he has been asked to read for terrorist roles in other productions and had turned them down multiple times.

"This movie is great because it is about Middle Eastern people assimilating into American culture and society, without trying to label Arabs and Muslims as terrorists, like many other films unfortunately do," Taher said. "It is also nice to see Arabs playing the roles of Arab characters, which isn't something we always see in productions."

The actor is known for his role as Matt in the upcoming pilot "Southport." He also plays Joe in the theater production of "Mama’s Curse of the Corner Blues."

Some might recognize Taher as ishhtaher from TikTok. Taher has over half a million followers and is most known on TikTok for his comedic videos with family, friends and his make-believe girlfriend that he argues with.

The actor said many people didn't believe in him when he decided to leave his office job to pursue his dreams. Below, Taher shared a TikTok showing when he found out his dreams were coming true.

The actor has trained extensively in both improv and method acting at Second City Chicago, in the Shurtleff technique at Acting Studio Chicago and in Meisner technique at Black Box Acting Studio.

The actor said he is slated to leave for Michigan for filming in summer 2021. There is no release date for the movie set. For more information on Taher, visit his social media pages, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.