Netflix has announced its first Arabic original series, the supernatural teen drama Jinn.
Co-written by Elan Dassani, Rajeev Dassani and Amin Matalqa, the series will be directed by Lebanese filmmaker Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya (Very Big Shot). Production is underway in Jordan, and the six-episode show is set to be premiered in 2019. The show stars upcoming local talent.
The show will follow the friendships and romances of a group of teenagers who unknowingly summon a jinn, or spirit. “We aim to create a fantastical show about young people in the Middle East in Arabic that’s real, authentic and action-packed,” Erik Barmack, the Vice President of international original series, said in statement.
Jinn will be Netflix’s second Arabic show after Lebanese actor-comedian Adel Karam’s stand-up special series, reported Variety.
“Creating Netflix’s first Arabic Original, and one of the first teen-focused shows ever from the Arab world, has been an unforgettable experience,” executive producer and contributing writer Rajeev Dassani said in a press release. “We’ve had so many local teens tell us they’ve never seen themselves accurately represented on screen, and it is both our pleasure and our responsibility to bring that to them and, in doing so, showcase all that the region has to offer.”