Why Morocco is Africa's little Hollywood

By Sophie Morlin-Yron, CNN

Updated 1200 GMT (2000 HKT) January 6, 2017

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Morocco's film studios and vibrant cities are often used as a backdrop for Hollywood films set in the desert, the Middle East and Asia. Pictured: Tom Hanks in "A Hologram for the King", in which Morocco doubled for Saudi Arabia.
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
Morocco's film studios and vibrant cities are often used as a backdrop for Hollywood films set in the desert, the Middle East and Asia. Pictured: Tom Hanks in "A Hologram for the King", in which Morocco doubled for Saudi Arabia.
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Parts of HBO television series "Game of Thrones" were filmed in Ouarzazate, a city in south central Morocco known as "the door to the desert".
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
Game of Thrones – Parts of HBO television series "Game of Thrones" were filmed in Ouarzazate, a city in south central Morocco known as "the door to the desert".
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The past 20 years has seen a rise in films tackling terrorism and other post 9/11 political topics, and many choose to film here. Clint Eastwood's 2014 film "American Sniper", for example, was partly shot in the Moroccan city Salé.
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
American Sniper – The past 20 years has seen a rise in films tackling terrorism and other post 9/11 political topics, and many choose to film here. Clint Eastwood's 2014 film "American Sniper", for example, was partly shot in the Moroccan city Salé.
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Starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, the film depicts the struggles of a Navy SEAL from Texas who gets deployed to Iraq.
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
American Sniper – Starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, the film depicts the struggles of a Navy SEAL from Texas who gets deployed to Iraq.
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In his new comedy, "Army of One", Nicolas Cage plays an American civilian who sets off to Pakistan to hunt down Osama Bin Laden, as seen in the newly released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYsPEl-xOv0" target="_blank">trailer</a>.
Photos: On set in Africa's little Hollywood
Morocco or Pakistan? – In his new comedy, "Army of One", Nicolas Cage plays an American civilian who sets off to Pakistan to hunt down Osama Bin Laden, as seen in the newly released trailer.
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