Resurrection Ertugrul

About the series

Diriliş: Ertuğrul (Resurrection: Ertuğrul) is a Turkish historical drama inspired by the life of Ertuğrul Bey, father of Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire. Created and produced by Mehmet Bozdağ under Bozdağ Film, written by Bozdağ and directed by Metin Günay, it aired on TRT 1 from 10 December 2014 to 29 May 2019, for five seasons. Engin Altan Düzyatan stars as Ertuğrul.

Story

Set in 13th-century Anatolia, the series portrays Ertuğrul’s leadership of the Kayı tribe amid political conflict, war and shifting alliances. Facing Crusaders, Mongols, Byzantines and traitors within, Ertuğrul fights to give his people a homeland, laying the groundwork for the state his son Osman would found.

Production

The series was filmed in Riva, a village in Istanbul’s Beykoz district, on huge outdoor sets. It is the first chapter of Bozdağ Film’s Ottoman saga, continued by Kuruluş: Osman and Kuruluş: Orhan.

Global phenomenon

Netflix streamed the show internationally from 2016–17 until 2023, and it became hugely popular in Pakistan, where it set viewing records, Azerbaijan and many other countries. It also sparked political debate: some countries in the Arab world banned it, and critics accused it of promoting a political message.

Cast highlights

• Engin Altan Düzyatan as Ertuğrul Bey
• Esra Bilgiç as Halime Sultan
• Engin Öztürk as Tuğtekin

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