Newly Shia "Sean Ali Stone" to play the lead role in an Iranian film

American actor and documentary filmmaker Sean Stone, who has recently converted to Islam, is slated to star in an Iranian film.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) -American actor and documentary filmmaker Sean Stone, who has recently converted to Islam, is slated to star in an Iranian film.

Iranian director Ali Shah-Hatami told ISNA on Wednesday that Stone, who came to Tehran at the invitation of the Reel Knights film and television development and production studio, has expressed interest in appearing in Iranian films.

Stone is set to play the lead role in Shah-Hatami’s new film The Accused which will be shot in Canada.

According to the director, the film portrays the problems Iranian and Muslims face while living in the United States.

“The film’s story is about a young Iranian man who leaves the country to continue his studies in the US… but is falsely accused of murder and goes to jail,” Shah-Hatami explained.

Stone became a Shia Muslim and chose to be known by the Muslim first name Ali as announced during a religious ceremony held in the Iranian city of Isfahan on February 14.

The 27-year-old filmmaker is a graduate of history from Princeton University and has collaborated on many of his father's projects such as the 2004 Alexander. He has also directed a handful of documentaries.

Sean is not the first renowned celebrity who has converted to Islam. The English singer and songwriter Cat Stevens converted to Islam in 1977 and adopted the name Yusaf Islam.

The prominent boxer Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.) also converted to Islam in 1964.

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