‘JINN’ the first Arabic Original Series from Netflix

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Mon, 26 Feb 2018 - 01:27 GMT

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Mon, 26 Feb 2018 - 01:27 GMT

Jinn soap opera – Netflix Website

Jinn soap opera – Netflix Website

CAIRO – 26 February 2018: Netflix has announced that ‘’Jinn’’ will be its first Arabic original series. The world’s leading internet entertainment service added that the soap opera will feature Middle Eastern talents and was filmed in Jordan later this year.

"This is a great opportunity to portray Arab youth in a very unique way. The level of authenticity Netflix is trying to achieve with this show is definitely what attracted me the most to be part of this project,” stated director Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya

Written and directed by exciting up and coming Arab stars, the teen supernatural thriller is set to be released globally in 2019.

“We are really excited about this. It is very common in Middle East that people know someone who has a Jinn story, so it’s nice to take that and turn it into a fun and mysterious teen adventure that everyone can enjoy. On a broader note, I love that Netflix is investing a lot in the region, it’s a real turning point. We have such a rich storytelling culture, and we'll finally be able to enjoy Arabic content with Netflix quality," recounted writer Bassel Ghandour.

‘’Jinn’’ is a contemporary supernatural teenage drama that relies mainly on young Arab characters. The series revolves around a number of teenagers, who encounter a Jinn in the form of a teenage boy appears to them in the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. Their friendships and young romances are tested while they work to save the world from the greater darkness that is threatening to destroy it. ‘’Jinn’’ will show whether they will come together in time, and save the world or not.

“Jinn” was written by Jordanian screenwriter, Bassel Ghandour (Oscar-nominated for “Theeb”) and directed by the rising Lebanese director Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya. “Jinn” is produced by Elan and Rajeev Dassani (SEAM). The series is expected to consist of 6 episodes.

“We’re delighted to be working with such a variety of breakout talent to launch our first Arabic original series in the Middle East,” said Erik Barmack, VP of International Original Series at Netflix. “We are extremely excited to bring this story to a global audience, and to celebrate Arab youth and culture. We can’t wait to share more details later this year.”

Jinn is Netflix’s second project in the region, after the Arabic stand-up comedy ‘’Adel Karam: Live from Beirut’’ which is scheduled to release on March 1.

It is worth mentioning that Netflix has signed its first Middle-East partnership deal with OSN, ensuring more content available for OSN customers. This commences a step forward for further industry collaboration, according to a press release from Netflix on Sunday, February 18.

The current media environment sees a greater amount of programming to watch and a higher demand for high quality streaming services. OSN will see the launch of a new OSN Box with access to the library of Netflix content, estimated to be released in the second quarter of 2018.

Customers will even get a chance to pay for their Netflix subscription alongside their OSN bill through one combined bill. There is no information on whether this will lead to the production of more original Arabic language content on Netflix, however the possibility might become more likely as the Netflix is already working on generating content that caters to the demands of the Arab region.

OSN CEO Martin Stewart mentioned in a previous press release, “that the future of the entertainment industry in the MENA region will be shaped by providers who offer value and choice at every turn, and through this ground-breaking partnership with Netflix, we are demonstrating our customer-centric focus on delivering convenience and flexibility for all.”

Netflix and Amazon accounted for 21 percent of the Middle East and North Africa market in 2017, according to Variety. With this new deal, Netflix will have finally gained some traction in establishing a foothold in the region, which it has previously struggled with.

Maria Ferreras, Netflix's VP Business Development for EMEA previously stated; "With this regional partnership and thanks to hundreds of Netflix's original titles slated for 2018, OSN's customers will be able to seamlessly access and enjoy all the best entertainment in one place.”

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