- Share this article on Facebook
- Share this article on Twitter
- Share this article on Flipboard
- Share this article on Email
- Show additional share options
- Share this article on Linkedin
- Share this article on Pinit
- Share this article on Reddit
- Share this article on Tumblr
- Share this article on Whatsapp
- Share this article on Print
- Share this article on Comment
MOSCOW – Turkish hit TV drama The End will be adapted for the Russian market by Moscow- and St. Petersburg-based Russian World Studios.
The pact, announced Thursday, marks the latest international deal for the series, following a recent sale to Sander Moses in the U.S. The show is being billed as the new Homeland in reference to the Showtime hit that is based on an Israeli format.
Stockholm-based Eccho Rights, which is handling sales for Turkish producer Ay Yapim, says it is keen to see how the format is adapted for Russia, where Turkish dramas such as Magnificent Century have proved ratings winners.
“Turkish dramas are in a class of their own and are a hot property right now on the international format market,” said Nicola Soderlund, managing partner at Eccho Rights.
Yuri Sapronov, CEO of Russian World Studios, said: “We have adapted lots of shows from different countries, such as Mexico, Argentina, Chile and South Korea, and all of them did great in Russia and Ukraine. Working on the remake of The End will be a new experience for us. We are very excited and hope for a big success.”
The series tells the story of a happy couple living in Istanbul. Their lives fall apart when a plane the husband is traveling on crashes. When the grieving wife is confronted by evidence that her spouse never boarded the plane, she begins a journey through a web of lies and intrigue that will ultimately lead her back to her husband.
The show has sold as a ready-made version with subtitles to 35 territories, including Sweden, where public broadcaster SVT became the first major international broadcaster to air a subtitled version last September.
Turkish-made television dramas have become major money spinners for producers in recent years, with international sales reaching $130 million last year, up from just $1 million in 2007.
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day