Sumaya El-Zaher
Netflix has announced to premier its first Arabic original series ‘Jinn’ in 2019. It is a supernatural drama executive produced by Elan and Rajeev Dassani and directed by the Lebanese director Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya and the Jordanian screenwriter Bassel Ghandour.
The six-episode teen drama will tell the story of a group of friends who encounter a Jinn (an evil spirit) in the form of a teenage boy. But an even greater darkness has been unleashed and threatens the world. They will have to fight the evil in order to save the world. The story takes place in the ancient city of Petra.
Netflix’s Jinn: Production Begins on First Original Arabic Series #Netflix #ComingSoon pic.twitter.com/42pplw42pO
— Netflix Updates (@Netflix_Updates) August 13, 2018
Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya told Netflix: “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.”
“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,” Said Ghandour added.
Erik Barmack, the VP of International Original Series at Netflix, said “We’re delighted to be working with such a variety of breakout talent to launch our first Arabic original series in the Middle East.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 the first Arabic original series from the Middle East, and the second in the region.