Eccho Rights has secured the first international presale for The Hatmaker, the upcoming period drama from O3 Medya starring Pınar Deniz and Selahattin Paşalı. MBC Group has acquired the series for its streaming platform Shahid and its linear channels across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The agreement was concluded on the first day of MIPCOM 2026, ahead of the series entering production in November. The early deal marks a strong start to the international sales campaign for the 60-episode drama, which Eccho Rights is presenting to buyers in Cannes as both a finished series and a scripted format.
A Woman’s Fight for Independence in a Changing Türkiye
Set in the early 1920s, The Hatmaker follows Ayşe as she struggles to rebuild her life after a brutal attack destroys the family life she once knew. Her husband, Rıza, abandons her in the aftermath, leaving her to face an uncertain future.
Five years later, hardship brings Ayşe to İzmir with her children, sister and mother-in-law. Amid the ruins left by the Great Fire, she encounters an elderly woman who introduces her to hatmaking. The craft offers Ayşe a way to support her family and create new opportunities for other women, opening the door to greater independence at a time of profound social change.
But her new beginning is threatened when she comes face to face with Rıza, who has since married into one of İzmir’s most powerful families. As Ayşe works to shape a future on her own terms, the man who once abandoned her emerges as a formidable obstacle to her freedom.
Created and written by Necati Şahin, the series is directed by Ömür Atay and produced by Suzan Sümeli for O3 Medya. Deniz and Paşalı lead the cast in a story that combines family conflict, romance and a woman’s struggle for autonomy against the backdrop of a transforming society.
Eccho Rights and O3 Medya Welcome Early Buyer Confidence
Handan Özkubat, Director of Turkish Drama at Eccho Rights, highlighted the significance of securing the deal at the start of MIPCOM.
“To have The Hatmaker secured by MBC just as opened the stand in Cannes says everything about the appetite for this series. MBC is a long-standing partner who knows their audiences extremely well, and they recognised straight away the strength of Ayşe’s story and the star power of Pınar Deniz and Selahattin Paşalı. There is no better way to open MIPCOM.”
Saner Ayar, Founder and Managing Partner at O3 Medya, also welcomed the agreement ahead of filming.
“For buyers to commit to The Hatmaker before production has begun is a real vote of confidence in the story, our cast and our team. We are delighted to be off to such a strong start with Eccho Rights.”
With MBC Group securing the first international deal before production begins, The Hatmaker enters the global market with an early foothold in MENA. Eccho Rights will continue presenting the series to international buyers throughout MIPCOM 2026, taking place from October 12 to 15.
