An Egyptian media company TVision Media Production which produces an Arabic version of “Saturday Night Live,” has purchased the rights to USA Network’s successful legal drama series “Suits” in order to develop a localised adaption.
TVision CEO Tarek Ganainy, who recently purchased remake rights for the long-running drama series from NBCUniversal International noted that the localised version will be based in Cairo.
The popular show is about a college dropout who becomes an associate attorney for a top New York City lawyer despite not having a law degree.
TVision plans on fully financing the first season and is expected to start shooting in June next year after spending several months in “trials and errors” regarding the screenplay. The casting for the new show is yet to be finalized however.
Egyptian multihyphenate Mohamed Hefzy, a well-known indie producer and journalist who runs Film Clinic shingle and has also produced recent shows like “Sheikh Jackson” and “Clash” will be the head writer and will work with a team of young writers. Hefzy has also authored several hits like “Tito” and “Warda.”
According to Ganainy, several Middle East broadcasters have expressed interest in it.
With regards to adapting the American show for Arabic audiences, Ganainy noted that the show will be “an adaptation, not a translation” highlighting that it was important that the viewers of the adapted show “feel that it’s an Arabic show.”
He also pointed out that most viewers will not have seen the original version.
The local version of SNL, “Saturday Night Live Arabia” airs out of Cairo and, diverging from the US version, keeps away from provocative political skits or jokes and focuses its humour on social issues. The show is currently in its fourth season.
The recent Dubai Film Festival has helped open the market to TV and other OTT shows for the first time.
The adaption of Suits for Arabic audiences is the show’s second redo with a Korean remake of the series expected to hit the small screen in 2018.
