The Ruling on Depicting the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Films and the Ruling on the Actor

Question:
May Allah reward you. This questioner asks: What is the ruling on depicting the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) directly in a film, without mockery, but as an explanation of the biography? And what is the ruling on the man who plays this role? Is he a disbeliever?

Answer:
It is not permissible to depict the Prophets (peace and blessings be upon them). No one may depict the Prophets in their personages, and it is not permissible to depict the Companions either. Decisions have been issued by the Council of Senior Scholars and by the Fiqh Academy in Makkah stating that it is not permissible to depict the Prophets or the Companions. Whoever does so is committing a forbidden act. As for if he intends to mock and belittle the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), then he is a disbeliever without doubt.