EXCLUSIVE: Your Honor has become the first Israeli drama to be adapted for the Chinese market.
Israel’s Yes Studios has struck a deal with William Lau‘s Hong Kong-based Ladder Ideas Limited to produce and a broadcasting partner will be unveiled in March, the studio said.
Titled Kvodo, the legal thriller originated in Israel but is familiar to American audiences due to the popular AMC adaptation starring Bryan Cranston, which ran for two seasons. It tells the story of a respected senior judge whose son is involved in a hit-and-run accident, leading to difficult choices, moral dilemmas and terrible consequences as he attempts to keep the crime a secret. Outside the U.S., Your Honor has been adapted in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, South Korea, Turkey, India and Russia.
The news is an intriguing deal with a Chinese market that has never before dipped into the ever-popular Israeli drama content well, although Chinese buyers have previously remade Israeli unscripted formats. The London TV Screenings and inaugural MIP London get underway later this month and a number of Chinese execs are expected to attend. Last week, we revealed Israeli major Keshet is taking its “most ambitious drama to date” to the English capital as it launches international sales on Unconditional.
Watch on Deadline
Yes Studios boss Sharon Levy said: “With its relatable father-and-son relationship at its heart and universal themes around family and parents protecting their children at any cost, Your Honor continues to appeal to producers, broadcasters and, of course, audiences worldwide. There have been very few international scripted drama adaptations in the region, so we are extremely proud to be among the first, collaborating with William’s team in Hong Kong.”
Lau added: “Your Honor is one of the top scripted formats and we are so excited to have this great opportunity to remake it in Chinese.”
Lau, who is also COO of MediaQuiz Production and Distribution Company Limited (Empress of China, Scarlet Heart: Ryeo), worked with Boat Rocker’s SVP, Strategic Partnerships, Asia, Henry Or, to help broker the format deal with Yes Studios.
Your Honor was created by Ron Ninio and Shlomo Mashiach and produced by Yes TV and Koda Communications. Yes Studios represents the original drama and the format worldwide. The series has been an Official Selection at nearly 20 international festivals, including SerienCamp in Germany and the Chicago International TV Festival and was the Grand Prix Winner at Series Mania in 2017.
The post ‘Your Honor’ Becomes First Israeli Drama To Be Remade In China appeared first on Deadline.
