The BBC has acquired thriller series “Kabul,” starring the late Eric Dane and “Tehran’s” Shervin Alenabi, from Mediawan Rights.
The six-part show, which is against the backdrop of U.S. troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan amid the Taliban’s return to Kabul, follows the chaotic evacuation of varied characters including diplomats, soldiers and civilians.
The synopsis reads: “Kabul, August 15, 2021. As American troops withdraw, the Taliban enter town. The Nazany family, like many civilians, is forced to flee, fearing retaliation. On this desperate and chaotic situation – shadowed by the looming threat of an attack by ISIS – French cops, Italian diplomats, German military personnel, and American intelligence services must one way or the other coordinate to administer the influx of civilians. How will each of them manage to save lots of their very own lives? The countdown has begun.”
Produced by France’s 24 25 Movies and Cinétévé, it also stars Jonathan Zaccaï (“Le bureau des legendes”), Thibault Evrard (“The Night of the twelfth”), Vassilis Kukalawi (“Kandahar”), Jeanne Goursaud (“Pax Massilia”), Gianmarco Saurino (“L’estate piu Calda”) and Valentina Cervi (“Medici: Masters of Florence”).
The series is directed by Kasia Adamik (“No Escape”) and Olga Chajdas (“Imago”) from a screenplay by Olivier Demangel (“Atlantics,” “November”), Thomas Finkelkraut (“Thomas Finkielkraut”) and Joey Lavy (“The Shift”).
“‘Kabul’ is a tragedy of the very best stakes,” said Nick Lee, the BBC’s head of program acquisition. “A warzone story which is propelled by the true ticking clock of the evacuation that was just five years ago this summer. Global politics remain complex, but ‘Kabul’ dramatises the most important view of history through the smallest window of a human family.”
Producers are Fabienne Servan-Schreiber and Charlotte Ortiz at Cinétévé, Matthias Weber and Thibault Gast at 24 25 Movies (a Mediawan Company). Sandrine Paquot exec produces. The series was made in collaboration with the European Alliance with Mediawan Rights repping global sales.
“Kabul” launches on the BBC’s streaming platform iPlayer on Aug. 2 and can be broadcast on BBC 4 from Aug. 15.