Keshet International has boarded “Nutuk,” a supernatural drama created by Roy Iddan (“Tehran”) and Nahd Basheir (“A Dead Sea”).
The series, which shot in Arabic and Hebrew language, revolves around a boy whose memories of another life help solve a murder mystery. It’s directed by Adam Sanderson (“Absentia”) and produced by Yoav Gross Productions for the channel Keshet 12 which will broadcast the series on primetime in October.
“Memories of a past life – or reincarnation – is a phenomenon found across many societies, spanning countless religious, spiritual, and cultural traditions,” said Kelly Wright, Keshet International’s head of distribution. She says the show has a “global resonance” because “more than two billion people around the world may relate to the concept in some way.”
“For many, it’s a system of cosmic justice; for others, a source of comfort and hope beyond death,” she said, adding that in “Nutuk,” “reincarnation serves as the emotional and narrative engine that drives a suspenseful investigation story.” Keshet International will introduce the series to buyers at Mipcom.
“Nutuk” is led by a cast comprising Jude Khatib, a newcomer who plays the main role, and stars alongside Lucy Ayoub (“Fauda”), Amgad Badr (“Fauda”), Nahd Basheir and Suliman Khiradin.
Khatib stars as seven-year-old Daniel who starts having visions that his parents attribute to a childlike fantasy. But when Daniel begins to have more and more visions of what appears to be vivid memories of past lives, his parents understand that their son may be undergoing “nutuk” – meaning “reincarnation” in the Druze community. Daniel’s visions point to the unsolved disappearance of a man named Ali Khiradin which he believes was murdered. The Fares family dives into a criminal conspiracy that the perpetrators have tried to keep buried for years – and will stop at nothing to protect.
Karni Ziv, Keshet 12’s head of drama and comedy said the network was “dedicated to telling stories that reflect the rich diversity of our small nation.”
“In ‘Nutuk,’ the Druze community’s deeply spiritual—and often hidden—theology around reincarnation is brought to life with a sense of mystery and reverence,” Ziv continued. He also praised the creative team behind the series for crafting a story that “resonates on both emotional and cultural levels.”
Khatib plays seven-year-old son Daniel who stars having visions which his parents initially dismiss as childlike fantasies.
Nutuk was originally greenlit by Keshet Broadcasting in 2022, as part of a slate of eight scripted shows that also included the Series Mania-winning “A Body that Works,” “Trust No One” and “Save the Date” — all three of which have been picked up by Netflix.
