Prime Video has acquired the global rights to "Çukur: Vartolu," an artificial intelligence-generated movie spin-off of the hit Turkish television series "Çukur," known internationally as "The Pit." The movie is produced by Turkish production company Ay Yapim under its Singapore-based studio, AI Yapim.
What's new
The film utilizes an AI-native production framework that blends technology with human performances:
- Artificial intelligence generated every frame of the movie, including character faces and backdrops.
- Human actors performed the scenes directly, with AI applying the visual characters over their physical timing, expressions, and movements.
- All dialogue throughout the film was recorded by human voice actors.
About the series
The original live-action series "Çukur" debuted in 2017 and follows the Koçovalı family as they navigate crime and family loyalty in an Istanbul neighborhood. According to Ay Yapim, the show has aired on free-to-air television across 105 countries, and its official YouTube channel has surpassed 6.4 billion views.
Ay Yapim is also behind prominent hit series such as "Endless Love," "Fatmagul," "Ezel," and "Forbidden Love." In August, its AI division previously released the two-part, 15-minute historical drama "Castle Walls" on Prime Video.
What to expect
Instead of revisiting the original show's storyline, "Çukur: Vartolu" focuses on the origins of Vartolu Sadettin (born Salih), the illegitimate son of the Koçovalı family. The story tracks his life after losing his mother and grandfather, growing up on the streets while holding onto hope that gives way to revenge. Moving between his childhood in Doğubeyazıt in eastern Türkiye and a confrontation years later in Istanbul, the plot explores how his choices, a teacher's kindness, and the love of a woman influence his transformation. The movie carries the tagline: "No one is more dangerous than a man with nothing left to lose."
For official premiere dates and streaming launch schedules, these details are not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Source: turkish historical drama - BingNews · Published October 10, 2026 · Photo by Cederic Vandenberghe on Unsplash