The anticipation surrounding ATV’s upcoming Turkish drama The Place Where the Sun Rises has taken another step forward with the release of the first photo featuring Burak Özçivit and Beyza Gümülcine together. The two actors appear as Kenan Kozan and Leyla Breger, the central pair whose relationship is expected to drive much of the series’ emotional story.
The series, known in Turkish as Güneşin Doğduğu Yer, is scheduled to premiere on Thursday, September 17, 2026, on ATV. The production comes from TİMS&B Productions, with a script by Yıldız Tunç and direction shared by Çağrı Vila Lostuvalı and Çiğdem Bozali. ATV has also confirmed that filming is continuing, while recent Ankara footage was used for scenes set in Germany.
Kenan and Leyla’s First Photo Creates Early Buzz
The newly released image is more than a simple promotional moment. It gives viewers their first visual impression of the pairing at the heart of the story.
Burak Özçivit plays Kenan Kozan, a member of one of Çukurova’s influential families. Beyza Gümülcine portrays Leyla Breger, a character whose meeting with Kenan in Germany changes the direction of his life. ATV describes Leyla as one of the key figures in Kenan’s story, particularly as his choices begin to challenge the expectations surrounding him.
The first image naturally raises questions about their chemistry, their characters’ backgrounds and, most importantly, what happens when Kenan’s romantic choices collide with his family responsibilities.
A Love Story Caught Between Family and Fate
At the center of The Place Where the Sun Rises is a familiar but potentially powerful dramatic conflict: love versus family expectations.
Kenan is the son of the Kozan family, one of the prominent families of Çukurova. During a trip to Germany, he meets Leyla and falls in love. Rather than accepting the future his mother Celadet has planned for him, Kenan decides to follow his heart.
That decision, however, comes with consequences.
Sibel Taşçıoğlu plays Celadet Kozan, Kenan’s mother, and the character appears to represent a major force in the family drama. ATV’s official material highlights the complicated relationship between Kenan and Celadet, suggesting that Kenan’s attempt to make his own choices will not be straightforward.
This gives the series a stronger foundation than a conventional romance. Kenan and Leyla’s relationship is not simply about whether two people fall in love. It is about whether that love can survive family pressure, social expectations and the consequences of challenging an established order.
From Germany to Çukurova
One of the most interesting elements of the new series is its geographical transition.
The story begins in Germany before moving into the intense world of Adana and Çukurova. Interestingly, the production has filmed Germany-set sequences in Ankara, demonstrating how the production is building different locations within its Turkish shooting schedule.
That contrast could become an important visual and thematic feature of the drama. Germany represents the setting in which Kenan encounters a different possibility for his future, while Çukurova brings him back into the powerful family environment that shaped his identity.
The result could create a story that moves between personal freedom and inherited responsibility.
Why Burak Özçivit and Beyza Gümülcine Matter to the Series
Burak Özçivit’s casting immediately placed the project on the radar of Turkish drama audiences. His portrayal of Kenan Kozan gives the series a recognizable leading presence, while Beyza Gümülcine steps into a role that appears central to the show’s emotional direction.
The official ATV announcement confirms that Gümülcine’s Leyla is the woman who changes Kenan’s life after meeting him in Germany.
The wider ensemble includes Sibel Taşçıoğlu, Görkem Sevindik, Devrim Yakut, Bahar Süer, Muharrem Türkseven and other performers.
With Yıldız Tunç handling the screenplay and Çağrı Vila Lostuvalı and Çiğdem Bozali directing, the project also brings together an experienced creative team.
What Viewers Can Expect
Rather than presenting the series simply as a love story, the available details suggest a broader family drama built around love, loyalty, power and personal choice.
The central question is compelling: how far can Kenan go to choose his own life when the family he comes from has already chosen a future for him?
Leyla may be the catalyst for that transformation, but the real conflict could come from everything surrounding their relationship.
With the first episode arriving on September 17, the release of Kenan and Leyla’s first shared photo gives audiences their first meaningful glimpse of the relationship at the center of the drama. ATV’s official announcement confirms the premiere date and the continuing production schedule.
For viewers who enjoy Turkish television dramas combining romance with powerful family conflicts, The Place Where the Sun Rises is shaping up as one of the notable new titles of the September 2026 season.
Final Thought
The first photo of Burak Özçivit and Beyza Gümülcine as Kenan and Leyla has already set the stage for an intriguing new Turkish drama. With love challenging family expectations and Kenan caught between his heart and his mother, The Place Where the Sun Rises promises plenty of emotion, tension, and unexpected turns when it premieres on September 17 on ATV.
SOURCE: Birsen Altuntas, IMDB, ATV
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