{"id":5769,"date":"2026-08-12T11:07:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T11:07:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=5769"},"modified":"2026-08-12T11:07:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T11:07:08","slug":"in-flames-director-zarrar-kahn-returns-to-toronto-with-gym-incel-rom-com-the-lion-does-not-concern-himself-trailer-unveiled-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=5769","title":{"rendered":"\u2018In Flames\u2019 Director Zarrar Kahn Returns to Toronto With Gym-Incel Rom-Com \u2018The Lion Does Not Concern Himself,\u2019 Trailer Unveiled (EXCLUSIVE)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nZarrar Kahn, whose debut feature \u201cIn Flames\u201d premiered at Cannes and later played Toronto, is returning to the festival\u2019s Short Cuts strand with romantic comedy \u201cThe Lion Does Not Concern Himself.\u201d <\/p>\n

Read more Alex Cooper and Matt Kaplan\u2019s Unwell Media Company Valued at $500 Million After Investment From Patrick Whitesell\u2019s WTSL<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tA trailer has been unveiled.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe film follows a likeable gym coach who has convinced himself that his identity as a toxic podcaster is his only route to cultural relevance \u2013 until someone walks in as a new client and stays as a love interest. The concept originated with Mohammad Ali Hashmi, the film\u2019s Toronto-based writer and lead actor and a frequent Kahn collaborator, who was struck by the volume of incel propaganda he encountered upon joining a new gym, and by how readily a gym regular could become an Andrew Tate champion.<\/p>\n

\n\tKahn found the subject compelling but chose to reframe the familiar terrain of male anger and online isolation as a classic rom-com. The title, drawn from a \u201cGame of Thrones\u201d line that has since gone viral on TikTok, is a tongue-in-cheek reference to manosphere culture \u2013 and to that culture\u2019s own capacity to poke fun at itself.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThe film is sort of about the manosphere, sort of about the gender divide, and sort of about the inherent goofiness of falling in love,\u201d Kahn said in a director\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n

Read more AI Music Generator Suno Strikes Licensing Deal With BMG as It Preps New Label-Backed Models<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tKahn directed, co-wrote, and co-edited the film, shot at a gym on Queen West in Toronto. <\/p>\n

\n\tLauren Saarimaki of POV Film produces, with Mina Husain of Suno Studios executive producing. CityLights Media handles world sales and festivals \u2013 the same company behind Kahn\u2019s forthcoming climate thriller \u201cSuffering Is Optional,\u201d starring \u201cMs. Marvel\u201d breakout Iman Vellani, which is set to begin production in early 2027.<\/p>\n

Read more \u2018SNL U.K.\u2019 Season 2 Sets September Date<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tWatch the trailer for \u201cThe Lion Does Not Concern Himself\u201d here:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

‘In Flames’ director Zarrar Kahn returns with a gym-incel rom-com starring Mohammad Ali Hashmi, premiering at the Toronto Film Festival.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5768,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4489,890,4490],"class_list":["post-5769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-film","tag-the-lion-does-not-concern-himself","tag-toronto-film-festival","tag-zarrar-kahn"],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018In Flames\u2019 Director Zarrar Kahn Returns to Toronto With Gym-Incel Rom-Com \u2018The Lion Does Not Concern Himself,\u2019 Trailer Unveiled (EXCLUSIVE) - Relocation Observer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/relocationobserver.com\/?p=5769\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018In Flames\u2019 Director Zarrar Kahn Returns to Toronto With Gym-Incel Rom-Com \u2018The Lion Does Not Concern Himself,\u2019 Trailer Unveiled (EXCLUSIVE) - 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