Netflix shares the stories of Turkey with the rest of the world

Netflix, the world’s leading streaming entertainment service, continues to tell the stories of Turkey to the whole world.

Recently, at an event hosted by Pelin Diştaş, Netflix Turkey Original Content Director, a selection of local productions to be launched in the upcoming period was shared with the guests for the first time.

In the opening speech of the night, Diştaş said, “To this date, we have produced more than 30 original series and films in Turkey; we made room for several new and different stories. We achieved a big success in Turkey and we have managed to be among the most watched in dozens of countries.

“We would like to thank our writers, producers, directors, actors, technical and set teams for their devoted efforts and contributions in this success. Together, we tell the world the spirit, the depth, the poetry, the music and the humor of Turkey; we conquer hearts with our culture.”

Diştaş continued: “I believe that we will achieve greater success with the impact and power of our stories. Our potential is that after Spain, France and South Korea, a story from Turkey will also be watched by hundreds of millions. Let’s continue to inspire each other; boldly and persistently!”

Sharing also the results of a public opinion survey* conducted in 7 countries from the USA to Spain, from Brazil to Saudi Arabia, Diştaş stated that the desire of the members watching Netflix productions in different countries to visit Turkey increased by 2.6 times and their desire to learn Turkish increased by 4.6 times.

Below you can find information on some of the exciting productions that will be translated into over 30 languages and travel to 190 countries in the near future:

Hot Skull [series] – Based on Afşin Kum’s novel Hot Skull, the series is about an epidemic that spreads from mind to mind through communication.

Created by Mert Baykal, The eight-episode dystopian adventure story is produced by TIMS Production. In a world shaken by an epidemic of madness called ‘jabbering’ that spreads through language and speech, former linguist Murat Siyavuş is the only person who has mysteriously unaffected by this disease.

Starring Osman Sonant, Şevket Çoruh, Hazal Subaşı, Tilbe Saran, Kubilay Tunçer, Özgür Emre Yıldırım, Gonca Vuslateri and Haluk Bilginer, Hot Skull will launch on Netflix globally on December 2nd.

Shahmaran [series] – Directed by Umur Turagay, starring Serenay Sarıkaya and Burak Deniz, the highly anticipated series Shahmaran is brought to the screen by TIMS&B Production, with the “unique” script of Pınar Bulut.

Going to Adana as a lecturer, Şahsu is determined to confront her grandfather, who left her mother behind years ago. On this journey, she finds herself in the middle of an unusual and mysterious community called Mar, descended from Shahmaran. Believing in the legend of Shahmaran, one of the greatest symbols of love and wisdom, the Mar race awaits the completion of the historical prophecy with the arrival of Şahsu. Nothing will be the same again when Şahsu’s path crosses with Maran’s.

The Tailor [series] – Longed-for actor Çağatay Ulusoy is returning to Netflix withThe Tailor, a seven-episode series based on a true story. Cem Karcı sits on the director seat of the screenplay on this OGM Pictures production. Written by Rana Mamatlıoğlu and Bekir Baran Sıtkı, Çağatay Ulusoy is accompanied by a powerful cast including but not limited to Şifanur Gül, Salih Bademci and Olgun Şimşek.

The Tailor depicts the story of Peyami, a young and famous tailor who inherited talent and successful business from his grandfather. With the death of his grandfather, Peyami brings his biggest secret, mentally ill father, to the core of his life in Istanbul and now has to take care of him without a soul finding out the truth. Esvet, running away from an abusive relationship finds herself in the middle of this secrecy, with her own mystery.

10 Days of a Good Man [film] – From the same director of several renowned thrilling series, this is the upcoming debut from Uluç Bayraktar. Being the first movie of the trilogy produced by Ay Yapım, 10 Days of a Good Man’s script is brought to life by Mehmet Eroğlu and Damla Serim, adapted from the same novels of Mehmet Eroğlu.

If you have not harmed anybody your entire life, can you say you are really a good person? If you are willing to get your hands dirty for justice, does that make you a bad person? Starring Nejat İşler, 10 Days of a Good Man, questions the use of being a good person by telling the story of Sadık, as looking for an answer to these major questions.

The second movie of the trilogy 10 Days of a Bad Man is also planned to be launched in 2023.

WWWRF [series] – Based on Perihan Mağden’s novel of the same name, Who Were We Running From tells the run-away story of a mother and her daughter. Scripted by Ertan Kurtulan and produced by 1441 Production, the mother is brought to life by the ever so talented Melisa Sözen.

A mother and her young daughter Bambi are on the run, away from someone, staying in luxury hotels, keeping on the move, leaving a trail of bodies behind… But as the luxury hotels get replaced with seedy motels, it becomes clear that the fairytale isn’t all that her mother promised Bambi it was going to be. Can they be the hunter, not the prey?

Boğa Boğa [film] – A brand new thriller by the eagerly anticipated duo Onur Saylak and Hakan Günday.

Starring Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ together with Funda Eryiğit, Boğa Boğadepicts the story of a couple from Istanbul, settling in a village in the Aegean region to start a new and peaceful life. However, they will quickly realize that they have many enemies in this village.

Aaahh Belinda [film] – Atıf Yılmaz’s famous story comes back to screen as a feature film on Netflix… Starring Neslihan Atagül, accompanied by talented Necip Memili and Serkan Çayoğlu, the movie is directed by Deniz Yorulmazer, written by Hakan Bonomo and produced by OGM Pictures.

The modern adaptation of the same-titled movie, Aaahh Belinda centers on Dilara, a young actress taking part in a TV commercial for a recently marketed shampoo, “Belinda”. During one of the rehearsals, Dilara’s life suddenly changes, realising that all the elements of the script have become real. Now she is Handan, despite her desperate efforts to prove otherwise.

Creature [series] – An unusual drama from the famous filmmaker Çağan Irmak, a story from the 1800’s to be told to humanity…

Created and directed by Çağan Irmak,Creature is an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. Starring Taner Ölmez, Erkan Koçak Köstendil accompanied by talented names like Şifanur Gül and Bülent Şakrak, the show is produced by O3 Medya.

With its epic story, created in the early 1900’s and stretching from Bursa to Istanbul, The Creature focuses on one of the most fundamental questions of humanity, “death and beyond”. The biggest wish of Ziya, an adventurous, rebellious and excited young medical student, is to be a very good physician and cure many epidemics that medicine cannot find a cure for.

Standing between madness and genius, Doctor İhsan, whom Ziya met in Istanbul, is almost the only person in this world who could understand him. These two eccentric and wounded souls will pay a heavy price for the secret and forbidden experiment they embarked on together…

Do Not Disturb [film] – A brand-new dramedy by Cem Yılmaz, only on Netflix.

Do Not Disturb is the first movie under the multi-project deal of Cem Yılmaz and Netflix, including multi-format content with 6 series, films and stand up. Created and directed by Cem Yılmaz, who is also the lead actor in this Cmylmz Fikirsanat production is accompanied by Ahsen Eroğlu, Celal Kadri Kınoğlu, Nilperi Şahinkaya, Özge Özberk and Bülent Şakrak.

Ayzek, who has been a waiter on ferries for years, becomes unemployed due to the pandemic and eventually finds a job at a hotel on the night shift. However, who knows what will happen to Ayzek on his first night…

Last Call For Istanbul [film] – Beren Saat and Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ are back together as the co-stars of Last Call For Istanbul, an OGM Pictures feature-film directed by Gönenç Uyanık.

A story about New York, love and second chances… Serin, whose luggage was taken by another passenger, crosses paths with Mehmet at New York’s JFK International Airport. The two strangers in search of missing luggage embark on an exploration of love, marriage and loyalty in New York.

Following the success of the previous seasons, Netflix has announced several local favourites like Rise of Empires: Ottoman (Season 2), The Club (Part 3), As The Crow Flies (Season 2 and 3), Love Tactics 2 and Midnight at The Pera Palace (Season 2) to return in the upcoming months.

Bringing Turkey’s rich storytelling to the world and investing in Turkish content, Netflix also announced its new original projects that will start production shortly and to be launched in 2024:

Asaf [series] – Created and directed by Özgür Önurme, Asaf tells the story of an ordinary Uber driver with strong moral values trying to find a way to get his life back on track after his separation with his wife and son. One day an unfortunate accident changes Asaf’s life forever as he becomes a pawn to wrong people. Asaf will be produced by Idea Film.

The Town [series] – From the eyes of successful director Seren Yüce, written by Deniz Karaoğlu and Doğu Yaşar Akal, Bir Film production The Town centers around two brothers who fell apart over the years, reunite in their small hometown after the death of their mother. After discovering bags full of cash in the trunk of a crashed vehicle together with their loyal childhood friend, they find themselves stuck in a game of cat and mouse, squeezed between a rock and a hard place. Will they give up on their dreams or take the only shot at changing their lives?

Ash [film] – Directed by Erdem Tepegöz and produced by Ay Yapım, Ash depicts the story of a wealthy, married woman falling in love with a mysterious carpenter, which will lead to many conflicts. Starring talented Mehmet Günsür, Funda Eryiğit and Alperen Durmaz.

Untitled Berkun Oya Project [series] – The beloved creator of Ethos and Cici, Berkun Oya is working on a new project for Netflix.

A mother, a father and a child… The story follows a nuclear family and their journey spanning decades. As we witness the family members confront and defy both one another and the society surrounding them, the unorthodox narrative structure will allow viewers to immerse in a realm of unique reality that includes life and before, death and beyond…

Working Title: “Kimler Geldi Kimler Geçti” [series] – Talented writer Ece Yörenç takes us to modern day relationships through this fresh and contemporary rom-com with an Ay Yapım production. It’s an “extreme love” story with complicated relationships and high energy. This is the story of different characters from a few weddings ago, or right after the “first love”, sometimes in the “bench”, sometimes in the “ghost”; some on the run, other on the chase, caught up in teases in search of relationships.

*BASIS Research evaluated the impact of Turkish content on affinity for the culture, has the potential to boost tourism, improves perceptions of the creative scene, and drives economic behaviors. The report aggregates findings from research studies in Brazil, Germany, the US, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Chile, UAE.