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.
Libi and Nuchem enter the Shtisel world in Season 2, when Libi, who is Akiva’s cousin, falls in love with him and they get married initially against their family’s wishes.
Shtisel is one of Israel’s great TV exports, launching the careers of the likes of Shira Haas and Michael Aloni. It launched in 2013 on Yes to critical acclaim and ran for three seasons, while airing on Netflix before switching to Prime Video in the U.S. earlier this year. Izzy has global rights and ChaiFlicks also airs in Australia and New Zealand.
Izzy CEO Nati Dinnar labeled Shtisel “the most beloved TV brand to come out of Israel.” “As a streaming platform, we understand the transformative power of an original, exclusive drama, and we’ve been dreaming of this moment for a long time,” he added.
Jens Richter, CEO Commercial and International, Fremantle, added: “The response to Shtisel has been huge, capturing the imagination of millions of loyal fans. Kugel follows a rich, warm, and compelling sequence of love triangles, broken promises and misunderstandings, told with humour, compassion and uncompromising humanity.”
Fremantle sells the show and its label, Abot Hameiri, is co-producer. The deal was brokered by Fremantle’s Lisa Honig, Senior EVP Distribution North America and Jamie Lynn, EVP Co-Production and Distribution EMEA, along with Dinnar. Kugel is a Fremantle, Abot Hameiri and Menuetto Film production. Kugel is written by Indursky and directed by Erez Kave. Executive Producers are Dikla Barkai, Guy Hameiri and Eitan Abot for Abot Hameiri, Hattie Burles, Olivia Sleiter and Hilary Martin for Fremantle, Jay Ruderman for Boston Rose, Dganit Atias Gigi and Uzi Karin for YES.