Ezel (2009–2011)
Ezel is a Turkish drama, thriller series broadcast on atv, Show TV, first aired in 2009–2011. Ömer is framed for a casino robbery and murder by his lover Eyşan, his closest friend Cengiz and his brother-like friend Ali. Years later, presumed dead, he returns as Ezel with a changed face and a revenge plan shaped with the help of Ramiz Dayı.
Ezel cast: Kenan İmirzalıoğlu (Ezel Bayraktar), Cansu Dere (Eyşan Tezcan Atay), Yiğit Özşener (Cengiz Atay), Barış Falay (Ali Kırgız), Sarp Akkaya (Tevfik Zaim), Tuncel Kurtiz (Ramiz Karaeski).
Detailed content was compiled from sources with AI; pending editorial review. Editor: Uğur Arı.
Plot
Ömer is sent to prison after Eyşan, Cengiz and Ali frame him for a casino robbery and murder. In prison, he meets Ramiz Dayı, who protects and guides him. After Ömer is presumed dead during an incident, he undergoes facial surgery and returns as Ezel, a wealthy businessman with a new identity. He enters his former circle to confront the people who took his life from him. The series develops its story through revenge, betrayal, loyalty, identity and the burden of the past.
Origins of the story
Adaptation status
Screenwriter Kerem Deren described The Count of Monte Cristo as one of the starting points of Ezel and characterized the relationship as a free adaptation or strong inspiration, rather than establishing a direct licensed adaptation.
Connection to reality
No reliable source reviewed for this draft confirms that the series is based on a specific real person, event or historical case.
Inspirations and influences
The Count of Monte Cristo
Confirmed by a creator or official sourceScreenwriter Kerem Deren said that The Count of Monte Cristo was one of Ezel’s starting points and described the relationship as a free adaptation or strong inspiration.
According to Kerem Deren
Limit of the evidence: This confirms a creative influence, but not a direct, licensed or scene-by-scene television adaptation.
Iconic filming locations
The story setting and the real filming site are identified separately.
Ulucanlar Cezaevi
Altındağ · Ankara · Türkiye
- Use in filming
- Used for prison scenes.
- Place represented in the story
- Used as a prison.
- Scenes and context
- Some scenes of Ezel were filmed at Ulucanlar Prison.
Adile Sultan Sarayı
Kandilli · İstanbul · Türkiye
- Use in filming
- One of the principal locations covered by a one-year filming agreement.
- Place represented in the story
- Not explicitly stated in the sources.
- Scenes and context
- atv reports that the Ezel production secured a one-year filming agreement with the palace.
Kaya Artemis Resort & Casino
İskele · İskele · Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti
- Use in filming
- The casino scenes in the early episodes were filmed here.
- Place represented in the story
- Used as a casino.
- Scenes and context
- Identified as the hotel where the casino scenes were filmed.
İstanbul Sanat Merkezi
Tarlabaşı · İstanbul · Türkiye
- Use in filming
- Used for scenes set in Ezel’s home.
- Place represented in the story
- Used as Ezel’s home.
- Scenes and context
- The source states that Ezel’s home scenes were filmed at İstanbul Sanat Merkezi in Tarlabaşı.
Villa on the Kandilli hills
Kandilli · İstanbul · Türkiye
- Use in filming
- Scenes were filmed in the villa’s living room, kitchen and bedroom.
- Place represented in the story
- Used as Yasemin’s home.
- Scenes and context
- The detailed address is omitted because this is a private residence.
Şile
Şile · İstanbul · Türkiye
- Use in filming
- The final episode was filmed here.
- Place represented in the story
- Not explicitly stated in the sources.
- Scenes and context
- An atv interview before the finale states that filming was taking place in Şile.
Location details were compiled from sources with AI assistance and are pending editorial review.
Trailer
Details
- Year
- 2009–2011
- Channel
- atv, Show TV
- Genre
- drama, thriller
- Seasons
- 2
- Episodes
- 71
- Rating
- 8.4
Cast
Character Map
Hero
- ↳ Eyşan — partner
- ↳ Cengiz — enemy
- ↳ Ali — enemy
- ↳ Ramiz Dayı — friend
- ↳ Tevfik — ally
- ↳ Bahar — friend
- ↳ Mert — sibling
- ↳ Mümtaz — parent
Anti-hero
Villain
Antagonist
Supporting
- ↳ Kenan Birkan — rival
- ↳ Ezel — ally
Character
What's in this series?
Ezel and The Count of Monte Cristo
Screenwriter Kerem Deren identified Alexandre Dumas’s The Count of Monte Cristo as one of the starting points of the series. He described the relationship as a free adaptation or strong inspiration. The shared core is the story of a man who is unjustly imprisoned, meets a guide in prison, assumes a new identity and seeks revenge. Ezel relocates this core into a contemporary Turkish crime and loyalty setting.
Its relationship with literature
Ramiz Dayı’s quotations from poetry and literature place the revenge story in a broader literary framework. Academic analysis also records references to several novels, poems and other works throughout the series.
How the premise developed
According to screenwriter Kerem Deren, he and Pınar Bulut began developing the screenplay several years before the series aired. The project was initially conceived as a story about a team searching for gold in the Kaz Mountains before evolving into the revenge drama seen on screen.
The series and reading culture
An academic study examines the series’ references to novels, poetry and other literary works, and interprets Ramiz Dayı’s use of poetry and literature as a possible source of viewers’ interest in books. This is presented as an academic interpretation, not as a measured causal effect.
Frequently asked questions
How many episodes is Ezel?
Ezel has 71 episodes across 2 seasons.
When did Ezel air?
Ezel first aired in 2009–2011 on atv, Show TV.
Who is in the cast of Ezel?
The main cast includes Kenan İmirzalıoğlu (Ezel Bayraktar), Cansu Dere (Eyşan Tezcan Atay), Yiğit Özşener (Cengiz Atay), Barış Falay (Ali Kırgız), Sarp Akkaya (Tevfik Zaim), Tuncel Kurtiz (Ramiz Karaeski).
Sources
- Ezel – Hakkında — Ay Yapım
- Ezel Dizisi Konusu, Oyuncu Kadrosu — atv
- Ezel Oyuncu Kadrosu – Ezel Oyuncuları — atv
- Ezel’in ‘Kopya’ olduğu iddialarına ne dedi? — Milliyet
- Son Dönem Türk Dizilerinde Psikolojik Öğeler: “EZEL” Dizisi Örneği — Akdeniz İletişim Dergisi
- Televizyon-Edebiyat İlişkisi Bağlamında Ezel Dizisi — Journal of Turkish Language and Literature
- İmkânsız denileni yaptık — atv
- Bu sezon herkes ‘Ezel’i konuşacak — atv
