Netflix extends Turkish original drama push, with Ay Yapim series & film

The Tailor

Netflix has unveiled a raft of Turkish scripted originals, including four new series and a movie.

The shows, revealed yesterday evening at a launch event in Istanbul, include Asaf, which has been created and directed by Özgür Önurme. It tells the story of an Uber driver who, after separating from his wife and son, finds his strong moral values tested following an accident. Local prodco Idea Film is attached.

The Town is from Bir Films and has been created by director Seren Yüce, with Deniz Karaoğlu and Doğu Yaşar Akal directing. It centers around two brothers who reunite in their small hometown after the death of their mother. They then find bags full of cash in a crashed vehicle, causing their trajectories to dramatically change.

Other series include an untitled family drama from Berkun Oya (Ethos) and Kimler Geldi Kimler Geçti (working title), which is from Ay Yapım. The “extreme love” tracks how relationships pan out following various weddings.

The four series are joined by movie Ash, which is being directed by Erdem Tepegöz and also has Ay Yapım producing. The story follows a wealthy, married woman who falls in love with a mysterious carpenter.

Netflix – unlike Warner Bros. Discovery – has been ramping up its Turkish content of late, with the five commissions above joining soon-to-be released series such as Hot Skull, Shahmaran and The Tailor.

Pelin Diştaş, Netflix’s director of originals for Turkey, told attendees at yesterday’s launch event that the 30+ originals so far produced by the streamer had made “room for new and diverse stories.” He added: “Together, we tell the world the spirit, the depth, the poetry, the music and the humour of Turkish culture.”