New Netflix Turkish TV shows 2020/21. Part 1
Netflix is gradually taking over the Turkish market, inviting the most famous actors and working with the most talented directors. Here are 15 projects that Netflix subscribers will see soon!
According to Netflix management, the number of subscribers in Turkey in just a year increased by 500%, reaching 2 million 200 thousand by the winter of 2020. At the same time, the Turkish series produced by Netflix The Protector, The Gift, Rise of Empires: Ottoman managed to gain popularity not only in the Homeland, but also far beyond its borders.
Not surprisingly, for the Netflix management the production of shows in cooperation with Turkish producers is one of the priority areas for further development. Moreover, the digital platform officially introduced the new category Made in Turkey. This means that from now on Netflix is going to actively develop the Turkish original production.
So far, the chief PR manager of Netflix for Turkey and the Middle East Artanç Savaş has officially announced the preparation of three new large Netflix projects in cooperation with Turkish producers. However, in fact, there are many more. The policy of the digital platform is quite restrained – first they make the project, and then officially announce it. So what do we know from unofficial sources? What Netflix series are waiting for us in the next year?
Hakan Muhafiz / The Protector starring Çağatay Ulusoy. The first and most successful Turkish Netflix show to date. On March 6, platform subscribers will see the third season. The fourth season that should be the final will be released in the same year. Fans are already dreaming of a possible sequel, but this is hardly possible. The lead actor Çağatay Ulusoy has already begun another work.
Atiye / The Gift starring Beren Saat. The series was very successful in Turkey and received good reviews abroad, although it could not repeat the success of the Protector. As a result, Netflix management decided to continue work on the project, ordering another season, the shooting of which will begin in March.
Rise of Empires: Ottoman. So far, official information on the renewal of the project for the new season has not been reported. However, given the great success of the series outside of Turkey, Netflix will certainly decide to order its producers a new season. Moreover, a precedent of this kind already exists. The Netflix Docudrama on the history of the Roman Empire already has three seasons. Most likely, it will be a different era and a different sultan. However, those who want to see the characters of the historical drama again received a pleasant surprise. The producer of Karga 7 Emre Şahin announced that he is preparing a new series dedicated to the stepmother of Sultan Fatih Mara Hatun. Recall that this role was played by Tuba Büyüküstün. Will she be the leading lady of the new series is not yet known.
Emre Şahin is also preparing for Netflix an adaptation of Charles King’s book Midnight at the Pera Palace – The Birth of Modern Istanbul. This is the story of the transformation of Istanbul from the capital of the Ottoman Empire into a modern city in the 20s of the last century. In the eight-episode historical drama, viewers will see Atatürk, Trotsky, Hemingway, Goebbels, White Guards and representatives of the Jewish diaspora. And all this against the background of the luxurious interiors of Istanbul’s most expensive hotel, that exists to this day and beautiful jazz music.
Love 101 from Ay Yapim television company, that will be aired this spring, is a typical Netflix youth story. Perhaps a simple plot about the students who were trying to make their teachers fall in love, but in the end fell in love themselves, will find fans among the youth audience of the platform.
A series of Ay Yapim starring Özge Özpirinçci, Birkan Sokullu and Burak Yamantürk. This is the story of two lovers who decided to give a second chance to their relationship. The director of the project is Çağan Irmak, who made one of the most legendary series in the history of Turkish cinema – The Mansion with Vines / Asmalı Konak. The screenwriter of the series is also well known to the audience – this is Ece Yorenç, who worked on the screenplays of the series Forbidden Love, Fatmagul, Ebb and Tide. Filming of the series will begin in March.
The Ay Yapim is also preparing a remake of the most popular series Call my agent. A prestigious acting agency and its managers are in the center of the story. Each of the four agents has the star clients with their quirks, dirty secrets, and the desire to become the main star of the Turkish show business. It has not yet been officially announced that the series is being made for Netflix, however, we recall that the rights to the world distribution of the French original show belong to the digital platform and Netflix does not sell the rights to remakes, so it is logical to assume that this project is also made for digital platform.
The Netflix comedy series 50 square meters / 50M2 of the BKM television company starring Engin Oztürk and Aybuke Pusat will be released later this year. Two seasons of the project are planned. This is the story of a criminal who is forced to hide from the mafia in a small studio in one of the districts of Istanbul. Residents of the quarter mistook him for the son of the recently deceased owner of the studio and the young man is forced to accept this game. But we are not waiting for a crime drama, but a situation comedy.
The second series of the BKM company, that will be made by Andaç Haznedaroğlu, will be launched in May. According to unconfirmed information, the star of this project may be Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ.
The director Berkun Oya continues shooting a series about modern Istanbul and its inhabitants, that will be released on the platform this year. Starring Öykü Karayel, Fatih Artman, Funda Eryiğit, Alican Yücesoy, Tülin Özen.
After the release of the first two seasons of the series Yard / Avlu on the platform, it was not entirely clear whether the work on the project would continue. As it turned out, the script for the show is being written outside of Turkey. 4 episodes of the new season are ready. When all 10 episodes are ready, preparations for the filming will begin, but it is not clear when the shooting starts, because the leading actors of the project work in other series.
The OG Medya company, that is filming The Gift series for Netflix, is preparing for yet another show based on the book Girl behind the Glass / Camdaki Kız, where Tuba Büyüküstün will probably star. However, as the actress admitted, it is still not clear whether she will be in the series or not.
TIMS & B and Spanish company Plano a Plano are currently preparing for a new show, that is expected to be released on Netflix. Journalist Sina Koloğlu claims that the platform ordered two seasons at once.
Netflix is actively buying books by famous Turkish authors to adapt them on screen. So far, we are aware of two bestsellers that have been officially purchased by the platform. This is the book of Buket Uzuner Adventures of the Unfortunate Defne Kaman / Uyumsuz Defne Kaman’ın Maceraları. The plot focuses on the mysterious disappearance of a journalist who conducted her own investigation. Mysticism, criminal drama and environmental problems are in the center of the story. One of the biggest stars of the Turkish screen is supposed to play the main character of the series – the journalist Defne Kaman.
Netflix has officially announced the purchase of the rights to the novel of Elif Şafak Love / Aşk. The book includes two stories between which the difference is 700 years, but they are closely related. This is the story of the American housewife Ella and the famous Sufi poet Mevlana.
Let’s not forget about the creators of the universe of Turkish superheroes T World, who are currently in talks with Netflix. Their first show Altay will be presented at the MIPTV media content exhibition in Cannes, and filming will start in May.
The most secret project of the digital platform is currently associated with the name of Çağatay Ulusoy. Since the actor has not yet announced his new plans, although he spoke in recent interviews about his future work in projects dedicated to real historical characters, many believe that the superstar will continue to work with Netflix. According to journalists, Çağatay is already working on a new show, but Netflix will announce it only after the release of the series The Protector. But is this really so, we will find out in the very near future.
According to some highly respected journalists, there is now a fierce battle behind the scenes of Turkish show business for the best resources and the best actors between the world’s leading digital platforms: Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Disney, Apple, Peacock. Netflix seeks to secure its position in Turkey, ahead of its competitors. According to experts, in the short term the platform will order 30-50 television projects per year, as is already being done in Brazil and Mexico.
