Kivanç’s new Netflix Original Series Bir Denizalti Hikâyesi (A Submarine Story) is gearing up to production in just a few days! The first set-call is scheduled for January 30th and it has been confirmed that filming will take place in and around Izmir, Istanbul, and the island of Cunda (the largest island of the Ayvalık Islands archipelago) also known as Alibey Island, off the Mediterranean coast of Turkey.
While the casting of Kivanç in the starring role of marine biologist Arman, had been announced as of October 2020 by OGM Pictures- the producers of the series- new acting talent has been added since the beginning of 2021. Confirmed casting choices include talented Turkish actors such as Özge Özpirinçci in the role of Defne ; Meriç Aral; Ertan Saban ; Alper Saldiran ; and Ecen Uzun. Casting for smaller roles as well as extras is continuing through February according to Turkish press sources.
Ozge Ozpirincci 
Ertan Saban
Özge Özpirinçci, is a well-respected and multi-awarded actress who is known not only in Turkey but also in Europe and Asia. She was born in 1986 in Istanbul. After graduation from Sabanci University she studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York City. She has been a household name in Turkey since 2009 with her portrayal of the lead character Ipek in the prominent Turkish TV series Melekler Korusun/ Guardian Angels. In 2016 she won Best Lead Actress in a TV comedy in Turkey’s Golden Butterfly TV Awards, for the long-running series Aşk Yeniden / Love Again. As is Kivanç, Özge is an active supporter of animal and human rights in Turkey.
Ertan Saban, 44 years old was born in Spokje, Macedonia, and is a Turkish-Macedonian actor of stage and screen. For many years he acted with his brother Erman Saban in Macedonian Turkish Theater. Since moving to Turkey Ertan has appeared in a number of television series such as Elveda Rumeli, Mutlu Ol Yeter, Kurtlar Vadisi Pusu, and in films including Limonata (which he also wrote) and Baska Semtin Cocuklari (2008) for which he received a Best Actor Award at the Kaunos Golden Lion Film Festival.
Meric Aral 
Alper Saldiran
Meriç Aral — born in Istanbul in 1990 and educated at Bilgi University and the Craft Acting Workshop, is a versatile young actress who has been acting since 2012 and has appeared in various Turkish TV productions including Medcezir (2013) Yuksek Sosyete (2016), Soz (2017) and film projects such as Whisper If I Forget (2014) and Yanimda Kal (2018) as lead actress.
Alper Saldiran, 36 years old is a Turkish actor of stage and screen. He graduated in theater from Yeditepe University and has been continuously acting in TV series and movies since 2004. Alper played the role of Fatih Karakuş in the 2011 movie “Anadolu Kartallari” (Anatolian Eagles), which was his first big screen experience, and Recai in the movie “Sağ Salim”. He played the role of Ömer in the TV series Beni Such Sev ( 89 episodes). Alper currently appears as Uygar in the 2020 series Masumlar Apartmani (Apartment of Innocents), currently one of the most viewed and acclaimed Turkish TV series.
Ecem Uzun — Ecem is a Turkish screen and stage actress born in 1992. She has appeared in many TV series including the youth drama series Küçük Sırlar (Little Secrets) on Turkish Kanal-D, and several movies such as Koca Dünya (Big Big World, 2016) and Tereddüt (Clair Obscur, 2016) shown at the Toronto International Film Festival, and for which she won a Golden Orange Best Actress award.
Ecem also appears in the 2021 TV series Şeref Bey along with veteran actors such as Haluk Bilginer, and Songül Öden (Kivanç’s co-star in his first series Gümüş).
*********************************************
The excitement is building for Kivanc to start working with this talented cast in collaboration with director Tolga Karaçelik and writer Jason George (read here for further details on the series writing and directing team).
(C) Copyright by Kivanc Tatlitug North America and North America TEN
I can hardly wait for release of new Netflix “The Submarine Story” with Kivanc. Thankful to have been able to watch all his series during the covid experience. I made it through with his shows. I’ve seen Kurt Seyit v Sura 15 times and read book twice.
Even watched Ezel because Kivanc was in it.
Wonderful News! I am looking forward to seeing the multi-talented Kivanc on the television screen again. Please do hurry. I am so impressed on the way your country film makers tell a story and love to see your countryside.
Can’t wait. Thank you!