Hakan: Muhafız (2018)
Also known as: The Protector
The Protector (Hakan: Muhafız) is a Turkish action, fantasy series broadcast on Netflix, first aired in 2018. In modern-day Istanbul, Hakan Demir discovers that he is heir to an ancient order charged with protecting the city from immortal enemies. Forced to confront both his past and the Immortals threatening Istanbul, he must learn to carry out a duty he never expected.
The Protector cast: Çağatay Ulusoy (Hakan Demir), Hazar Ergüçlü (Zeynep Erman), Okan Yalabık (Faysal Erdem), Ayça Ayşin Turan (Leyla Sancak), Engin Öztürk (Levent Demir), Funda Eryiğit (Nisan).
Editor: Uğur Arı
Where to watch The Protector (Hakan: Muhafız)
The Protector (Hakan: Muhafız) is available in United States on Netflix (Subscription), Netflix Standard with Ads (Subscription).
NetflixSubscriptionOfficial
Netflix Standard with AdsSubscriptionOfficial
Subtitle/dubbing languages not verified; availability on a platform does not imply language support.
Last checked: 15 Sept 2026 · May be outdated
Streaming availability data via TMDB / JustWatch — TMDB / JustWatch
How many episodes does The Protector have?
The Protector has 32 episodes in total across 4 seasons.
Plot
Hakan Demir leads an ordinary life in Istanbul until the death of Neşet and the discovery of a mysterious talismanic shirt reveal his connection to the Protectors, an ancient lineage sworn to defend the city. With help from Zeynep and Kemal, Hakan tries to understand the shirt, dagger and ring linked to his mission while confronting Faysal Erdem and the Immortals connected to him. His struggle expands through personal relationships, family secrets and Istanbul’s layered past.
Origins of the story
Adaptation status
The series is officially based on N. İpek Gökdel’s novel Karakalem ve Bir Delikanlının Tuhaf Hikâyesi. Available interviews describe the adaptation as expanding the novel’s central premise rather than providing a complete scene-by-scene comparison.
Connection to reality
The series is a fictional fantasy that combines modern Istanbul with Ottoman and Turkish legends, historical references and historic locations. The available sources do not establish that its plot is based on real events or a real person.
Trailer
Details
- Year
- 2018–2020
- Channel
- Netflix
- Genre
- action, fantasy
- Seasons
- 4
- Episodes
- 32
- Rating
- 7.2
Cast
Character Map
Hero
- ↳ Zeynep Erman — ally
- ↳ Neşet Korkmaz — parent
- ↳ Burak — ally
Show spoiler (5)
- ↳ Leyla Sancak — partner
- ↳ Faysal Erdem — enemy
- ↳ Mazhar Dragusha — enemy
- ↳ Levent Demir — sibling
- ↳ Nisan Türk — ally
Villain
- ↳ Mazhar Dragusha — ally
- ↳ Leyla Sancak — ally
Show spoiler (1)
- ↳ Rüya Erdem — spouse
Antagonist
Supporting
Character
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What's in this series?
Expanding the mythology from novel to series
Karakalem ve Bir Delikanlının Tuhaf Hikâyesi provides the series’ starting point. Reliable interviews describe the series as expanding the novel’s central idea, but do not provide a complete comparison of all plot and character differences across the four seasons.
Istanbul, Ottoman narratives and fantasy history
Netflix presents the series as combining Istanbul’s meeting of East and West, past and future, with Ottoman and Turkish legends and history. These elements function as the background of a fantasy mythology rather than as a claim of historical realism.
Netflix’s first Turkish original series
Hakan: Muhafız was presented by Netflix as its first Turkish original series. The production was led for O3 Medya by Onur Güvenatam; the first season was announced as a 10-episode series, and the show eventually reached four seasons.
A local superhero story in international circulation
Netflix released Hakan: Muhafız internationally as an Istanbul-centered superhero fantasy. The official announcement emphasizes its worldwide distribution, placing its local historical and mythological motifs within a global streaming context.
Frequently asked questions
When did The Protector air?
The Protector (Hakan: Muhafız) first aired on 14 December 2018 on Netflix.
Who is in the cast of The Protector (Hakan: Muhafız)?
The main cast of The Protector includes Çağatay Ulusoy (Hakan Demir), Hazar Ergüçlü (Zeynep Erman), Okan Yalabık (Faysal Erdem), Ayça Ayşin Turan (Leyla Sancak), Engin Öztürk (Levent Demir), Funda Eryiğit (Nisan).
Is The Protector based on a book or another series?
The series is officially based on N. İpek Gökdel’s novel Karakalem ve Bir Delikanlının Tuhaf Hikâyesi. Available interviews describe the adaptation as expanding the novel’s central premise rather than providing a complete scene-by-scene comparison.
Is The Protector based on a true story?
The series is a fictional fantasy that combines modern Istanbul with Ottoman and Turkish legends, historical references and historic locations. The available sources do not establish that its plot is based on real events or a real person.
What is Hakan: Muhafız called in English?
Hakan: Muhafız was distributed internationally as "The Protector".
Sources
- Hakan: Muhafız — Netflix Resmî Sitesi — Netflix
- The Protector’dan İlk Görüntüler Geldi! — About Netflix
- Hakan Muhafız 3. sezonuyla 6 Mart’ta tüm dünyayla aynı anda Netflix’te — About Netflix
- Hakan: Muhafız’ın yaratıcısı İpek Gökdel anlattı — T24
- Söyleşi: Karakalem’den Hakan: Muhafız’a… Sayfalardan Ekrana… — Salon İKSV
- Netflix’in ilk orijinal Türk yapımı Hakan: Muhafız huzurlarınızda — Euronews Türkçe
- Netflix Announces Its First Turkish Original Series — About Netflix
- Hakan: Muhafız: 1. sezonun oyuncuları — Beyazperde
- Hakan: Muhafız Dizisinin Karakterleri — Marmara Üniversitesi arşivi
- Hakan: Muhafız’ın üçüncü sezonunda mücadele yeni kahramanlarla devam ediyor — T24
- The Protector — Netflix Resmî Sitesi — Netflix
- Hakan: Muhafız — TMDB Rusça yayın adı — TMDB