EXCLUSIVE: Hit Israeli drama Fauda has landed one of its biggest casting coups to date.
Inglourious Basterds star Mélanie Laurent has joined the fifth season of the spy thriller. The double-César Award-winning actor’s character details are being kept under wraps but she will appear in seven of the nine eps of the upcoming season. Cameras will roll later this month. Laurent has previously worked with Fauda creator and lead Lior Raz in Netflix’s 6 Underground and Operation Finale.
Laurent is one of France’s biggest stars. She became a household name when she appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-winning 2009 hit Inglourious Basterds opposite Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz and has since appeared in Hollywood movies like Now You See Me. In France, she has won awards for Don’t Worry I’m Fine and Tomorrow. She can soon be seen in Apple TV+ series A L’ombre des Forêts.
Based on the real-life experiences of creators Raz and Avi Issacharoff, Fauda follows a team of elite Israeli undercover agents as it works to apprehend terrorists. Season 4 concluded with Maya learning her brother Omar was killed by a terrorist and finding herself targeted by the Israelis due to her knowledge of Omar’s activities. There was also a horrifically violent incident involving Gabi, who was tortured by Omar and Hezbollah.
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Fauda has often been lauded for portraying the incredibly complex Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a fresh way while opening a valuable window into the present-day Middle East. Season 5 will air on Israel’s yes TV early next year and will as per be followed by a global Netflix premiere. The streamer has bought all four previous seasons.
Laurent’s casting is a sign that Israeli TV continues to punch above its weight. Hugh Laurie joined the cast of the previous season of a similarly popular Israeli show, Apple TV+’s Tehran.
The new season of Fauda is being helmed by Season 4 director Omri Givon (Hostages) and written by Omri Shenhar (Tehran, Magpie). Fauda is produced by yes TV and L. Benasuly Productions for yes TV. Yes Studios handles the series’ international distribution.
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