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Turkish actress Hande Erçel has been announced as the lead for Diaspora, an upcoming drama feature set in Germany. The film will be written and directed by Iranian filmmaker Nader Saeivar, who is based in Berlin. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2027 and will take place entirely in Berlin. The project will feature dialogue in Turkish, English, and German.
Erçel will travel to Berlin about a month prior to the shoot to begin language training, character development, and creative rehearsals. Further international cast members will be revealed in the coming weeks.
About the series
The story centers on Merve, an educated, middle-class Turkish woman attempting to rebuild her life alongside her 12-year-old son in Germany after her husband dies tragically in Turkey. Merve takes a job at a language school run by a German family expecting their second child. However, she experiences recurring inappropriate physical contact from the family's 15-year-old son, Luca.
When Merve informs the boy's father, the family rejects her claims, turns the accusations against her, and subjects her to severe slander. Key details about the cast and crew include:
- Lead Cast: Hande Erçel as Merve, and Moritz Bleibtreu as the father of the German family.
- Director & Screenwriter: Nader Saeivar, known for works such as No End, The Witness, Hijamat, and his Oscar-nominated writing collaboration on It Was Just An Accident.
- Producers: Said Nur Akkus at Berlin-based Arthood Films and Emre Oskay at Istanbul-based Sky Films.
What to expect
The drama explores a single widowed immigrant's difficult battle against legal systems and societal prejudices as she attempts to protect her dignity and her son. Director Nader Saeivar explained that the feature aims to re-examine the complex dynamics between the East and the West, challenging cultural stereotypes, subtle prejudices, and structural superiority in favor of authentic empathy.
If you are looking for details on streaming platforms, episode breakdowns, or specific premiere dates, they are not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Source: turkish historical drama - BingNews · Published October 08, 2026 · Photo by Aakash Goel on Unsplash