Outraged Egyptian director 'hated' film 'American Sniper,' so he's making 'Iraqi Sniper' in response

Egyptian film director Amr Salama revealed to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday that his latest project in the works focuses on the "American Sniper" film's antagonist.

"American Sniper's" protagonist — portrayed by actor Bradley Cooper — was based on former U.S. Navy SEAL and sniper, Chris Kyle.

The film's title and premise

Tentatively titled "Iraqi Sniper," the storyline will follow that of "American Sniper's" antagonist, a sniper whose character went by the name "Mustafa," an operative who was believed to be a former Syrian Olympian.

According to Salama, his aim for the film is to tell the “other side of the story of 'American Sniper,' the story about the villain.”

"The same actor who played the [Iraqi] sniper in 'American Sniper' — Sammy Sheik — is attached to my film," Salama told The Hollywood Reporter.

Of the Iraqi sniper himself, Salama added, "He's the hero in my film."

Why Salama is making the film three years after "American Sniper's" box office success

Salama stated that his inspiration behind "Iraqi Sniper" was over the outrage he felt at "American Sniper."

"I hated it," Salama said, referring to the American film. "That was my inspiration — I hated it so much that I wanted to work on a different version of that story."

Salama added that his intent is to make an "anti-war" film, as he felt that "American Sniper" was "pro-war."

Chris Kyle's history

"American Sniper," the 2014 film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, follows the story of Kyle's four tours of Iraq as a SEAL and sniper. Kyle was reported to be one of the most lethal snipers in American military history. The award-winning film was adapted from Kyle's 2012 book of the same name.

After Kyle returned from Iraq, retired, and published his bestselling book, he and friend Chad Littlefield were shot and killed in 2013 by a colleague, former Marine Eddie Ray Routh, while visiting a shooting range in Texas.

Routh, who reportedly suffered from PTSD, admitted that he'd killed Kyle and Littlefield because they wouldn't talk to him.

"I was just riding in the back seat of the truck, and nobody would talk to me," Routh said of the men's ill-fated trip to the shooting range. "They were just taking me to the range, so I shot them. I feel bad about it, but they wouldn't talk to me. I’m sure they've forgiven me."

Routh was convicted of murdering Kyle and Littlefield in 2015 and sentenced to life in prison without parole.