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Global powerhouse Fremantle, international streaming service Izzy, production house Abot Hameiri and Israeli broadcaster Yes have partnered on the distribution of drama series “Kugel,” the prequel to the hit series “Shtisel.”
“Kugel” will launch on Izzy early next year, appealing to fans of the central characters of “Shtisel,” Nuchem (Sasson Gabai) and his daughter Libi (Hadas Yaron).
“Shtisel” followed the lives of a tight-knit ultra-Orthodox family in Jerusalem. Previously available in the U.S. on Netflix, all three seasons of “Shtisel” were acquired earlier this year by Amazon Prime Video.
“Kugel” is written by “Shtisel” co-creator Yehonatan Indursky. The commissioning broadcaster is Yes, which holds rights in Israel. Fremantle handles global sales. It is produced by Fremantle, Fremantle’s Abot Hameiri and Menuetto Film.
Popular on Variety The series takes places when Libi lived with Nuchem among the ultra-Orthodox community of Antwerp, Belgium, long before she met her future husband, Akiva Shtisel.
Nuchem is a charming jewellery dealer, unafraid of bending the rules to make a sale. But when his wife Yides (Mili Avital) finally tires of his swindling and says she wants a divorce, their family life is thrown into disarray. Nuchem spends his days trying to save his marriage and achieve his dream of one day being a mogul, and his nights courting Pnina Baumbach, a recently widowed woman who inherited a restaurant that specializes in fine Jerusalem-style noodle kugels.
Throughout the series, Nuchem must learn to balance his ambition in business with the needs of the three women in his life.
In light of her parents’ crumbling marriage, and despite her age, 22, Libi is yet to find a suitable match. Instead, she devotes all of her energy and resources to becoming a successful writer. But then, a chance encounter with an Orthodox man on the Antwerp tram throws a wrench into her plans. Libi must decide whether the path to success for her lies in marriage, love or pursuing her dream of being an author.
Jens Richter, CEO, commercial and international, Fremantle, said: “The response to ‘Shtisel’ has been huge, capturing the imagination of millions of loyal fans. ‘Kugel’ follows a rich, warm, and compelling sequence of love triangles, broken promises and misunderstandings, told with humor, compassion and uncompromising humanity.”
Nati Dinnar, co-founder and CEO of Izzy, said: “As a streaming platform, we understand the transformative power of an original, exclusive drama, and we’ve been dreaming of this moment for a long time. But even in my wildest dreams, I couldn’t have imagined partnering with such an incredible team on the most beloved TV brand to come out of Israel – ‘Shtisel.’
“Since acquiring all three seasons of ‘Shtisel’ on Izzy, we’ve been eagerly awaiting this day. With millions of die-hard fans of the series, we’re confident they will join Izzy to experience ‘Kugel,’ rediscover ‘Shtisel,’ and explore even more exceptional stories from Israel’s storytellers. By doing so, they’ll not only enjoy world-class content but also support Israel in sharing its vibrant storytelling with the world.”
Dikla Barkai, head of drama at Abot Hameiri and executive poducer of “Kugel,” said: “’Kugel’ is a prequel to ‘Shtisel,’ created thanks to the immense love audiences have for the original series. With Izzy’s partnership, the show can now return to the hearts of its passionate fans – there’s nothing more exciting for us.”
“Kugel,” which is comprised of eight episodes, is written by Indursky, directed by Erez Kavel. Executive producers are Dikla Barkai, Guy Hameiri and Eitan Abot for Abot Hameiri, Hattie Burles, Olivia Sleiter and Hilary Martin for Fremantle, Jay Ruderman for Boston Rose, Dganit Atias Gigi and Uzi Karin for Yes.
Kugel is supported by Screen Flanders and the Belgian tax shelter, in collaboration with BNP Paribas Fortis Film Finance.
