You’ve produced some of Türkiye’s most memorable and long-running series -Sıla, Mercy, and Flames of Desire are among them- and you’re known for your careful preparation and attention to detail. Let’s start with Halef: how did the project begin, and how did you develop it?
Gül Oğuz: Halef is a story I’ve been working on for quite some time. In our culture, especially in Anatolia, the idea of continuity runs deep. People don’t just carry their own lives, they also carry the legacy of those who came before them. That legacy can sometimes feel like a burden, and other times like a strong sense of belonging. The idea for Halef came from there: the values, secrets, and destinies passed down from one generation to the next. The preparation process took almost a year and a half. During that time, we didn’t just build the story, we built the soul, the world it lives in. The characters’ pasts, the cultural layers of the region, the atmosphere of each location… We worked through every detail very carefully.
What mattered most to us was making sure the audience could truly step into that world and feel the characters. That’s why we focused on keeping both the story and the visual language as real, and authentic as possible.
The performances of İlhan Şen, Aybüke Pusat, and Biran Damla Yılmaz are all very strong, and it’s clear the entire cast was chosen with great care. Could you tell us a bit about that process?
Gül Oğuz: The casting process was just as important to us as the script. In Halef, every character has their own past, depth, and rhythm. İlhan Şen, Aybüke Pusat, and Biran Damla Yılmaz each brought a powerful energy to the story, adding both emotional and instinctive depth to their roles.
We went through a quite long preparation process with rehearsals, script readings, and detailed character work. Our goal wasn’t just for the actors to play their parts, but to truly live in that world. From the very beginning, our main goal in casting was to help the audience form a strong bond with the characters. Because at its core, this is a story about emotions, legacy, and the sense of belonging, and our cast reflects that authenticity beautifully.
Gül Oğuz: “I can say this with certainty: if a story feels genuine and its world is built with care, international audiences always respond. Halef is exactly that kind of story. That’s why I truly believe it will find its audience and be embraced globally.”
Since its first episode, Halef has steadily gained higher ratings and captured the audience’s attention. Why do you think viewers have connected with it so strongly?
Gül Oğuz: I think Halef is loved because both its story and its world feel very real. The texture, colors, and light of Urfa already breathe life into the series. When you add the warmth of the characters and the sincerity of the emotions, it creates a world the audience can truly step into. That authenticity is what makes Halef so loved.
As a producer whose series have reached global audiences and achieved major international success, what are your thoughts and expectations for Halef’s journey abroad?
Gül Oğuz: When I was producing Sıla, I could have never imagined that two or three hundred million people would watch it one day. But now, I can say this with certainty: if a story feels genuine and its world is built with care, international audiences always respond. Halef is exactly that kind of story. That’s why I truly believe it will find its audience and be embraced globally.
This exclusive interview with Gül Oğuz was featured in Episode Magazine’s MIP Cancun 2025 issue.
