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Global streaming platform Izzy, which specializes in Israeli shows and films, is set to exclusively launch “Kugel,” the highly anticipated prequel to Netflix hit “Shtisel,” on Feb. 28 to its subscribers across more than 60 countries. Variety spoke to Nati Dinnar, Izzy’s co-founder and CEO, about the show and why he was so keen to acquire it for the streamer.

“Shtisel” launched in 2013 on Israeli network Yes and ran for three seasons on Yes and on Netflix outside Israel, fast becoming a worldwide hit. The series scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and was praised as “groundbreaking television” by the New York Times, won 11 awards at the Israeli Television Academy Awards in 2013 and took home six awards in 2015.

Izzy will be launching “Kugel” in 12 languages, including English, Hebrew, French, Spanish and Portuguese. “Shtisel,” which is also to be found on Izzy, followed the lives of the extended Shtisel family – a warm, closely-knit and argumentative ultra-Orthodox family in Jerusalem.

Exclusive: Fans of Israeli TV were handed an early Chanukah gift on Wednesday when broadcaster Yes and Fremantle revealed they had cooked up a prequel to hit drama series Shtisel.

Just as crucial a cog in the Kugel machine is Izzy, an Israeli streaming platform that has taken rights to the prequel and will air the show from early next year outside of Israel.

“Everyone wanted to keep this brand alive,” said Nati Dinnar, an Israeli TV vet who founded Izzy in 2020 and has since landed global rights to both Kugel and Shtisel.

Kugel has already launched locally on Yes and yet the majority of its global fanbase and industry only learned of its existence 48 hours ago. Set several years earlier than Shtisel, Kugel moves to Antwerp, Belgium, where Shulem Shtisel’s brother Nuchem and his daughter Libi are making their way in life, with plenty bumps along the way.

Fremantle on Thursday said it has promoted Fran Denny to the role of vp commercial, global drama, reporting to Seb Shorr, chief operating officer, global drama. “

“In this newly created role Fran will work closely with Seb on the commercial operations of the global drama team, leading on deal-making for our first-look producers, supporting the broader group film strategy, and sourcing new opportunities for the team,” the production giant said..

Denny joined Fremantle in February 2022 as legal & business affairs manager, global drama and documentarie. She was then promoted to the position of vp legal & business affairs, global drama in April 2023.

Prior to joining Fremantle, the executive worked at Sister Pictures and Warner Brothers Television Production U.K.

“It has been a pleasure working with Fran over the past three years, and I highly value her commercial acumen and deal-making skills,” said Shorr. “I look forward to working with Fran more...

Global powerhouse Fremantle, international streaming service Izzy, production house Abot Hameiri and Israeli broadcaster Yes have partnered on the distribution of drama series “Kugel,” the prequel to the hit series “Shtisel.”

“Kugel” will launch on Izzy early next year, appealing to fans of two of the main characters of “Shtisel,” Nuchem (Sasson Gabai) and his daughter Libi (Hadas Yaron).

“Shtisel” followed the lives of a tight-knit ultra-Orthodox family in Jerusalem. Previously available in the U.S. on Netflix, all three seasons of “Shtisel” were acquired earlier this year by Amazon Prime Video.

“Kugel” is written by “Shtisel” co-creator Yehonatan Indursky. The commissioning broadcaster is Yes, which holds rights in Israel. Fremantle handles global sales. It is produced by Fremantle, Fremantle’s Abot Hameiri and Menuetto Film. (See the trailer here.)

The series takes places when Libi lived with Nuchem among the ultra-Orthodox community of Antwerp, Belgium, long before she met her future husband,...

The Shtisel universe is expanding.

The smash Israeli series about the trials and tribulations of an orthodox Jewish family is being handed a prequel titled Kugel, following Libi Shtisel in Belgium years before she marries Akiva.

From Shtisel co-creator Yehonatan Indursky, Kugel will launch next year on Israeli net Yes and global streamer Izzy. The show will tell the story of Libi (Hadas Yaron) and her father Nuchem (Sasson Gabai). Nuchem is a charming jewellery dealer, unafraid of bending the rules to make a sale. But when his wife Yides (Mili Avital) finally tires of his swindling and says she wants a divorce, their family life is thrown into disarray – Nuchem spends his days trying to save his marriage and achieve his dream of one day being a mogul, and his nights courting Pnina Baumbach, a recently-widowed woman who inherited a restaurant that specializes in fine Jerusalem-style noodle kugels, hence the name.