A new Turkish period drama is beginning to attract international attention before cameras even start rolling. The Hatmaker Women, known in Turkey as Şapkacı Kadınlar, has brought together Pınar Deniz and Selahattin Paşalı for a story set against one of the country’s most significant periods of social transformation.
Produced by O3 Medya, the series is being directed by Ömür Atay and written by Şükrü Necati Şahin. Recent Turkish entertainment reports confirm Deniz as Ayşe and Paşalı as Rıza, while production is planned to begin in November 2026.
The project is also moving into international promotion. Its English-market title is being presented as “The Hatmaker,” while the first international poster has introduced the project to the global television business ahead of MIPCOM Cannes 2026, scheduled for October 12–15 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes.
Pınar Deniz Returns as Ayşe
At the center of The Hatmaker Women is Ayşe, a village woman whose life changes dramatically during the period surrounding the Hat Revolution. Pınar Deniz will play the character, marking her return to a major television project after a break from screen work.
Recent reports say that Deniz had previously considered joining the project before ultimately signing on for the current production. Her casting now gives the series a recognizable lead at a particularly important stage of its development.
Ayşe’s journey gives the drama a distinctive narrative hook. Rather than simply using history as a backdrop, the series places personal transformation at the heart of its story. Ayşe moves beyond the limitations of her original circumstances and develops into a figure associated with fashion and style.
That combination of historical drama, personal ambition and fashion gives the project a broader international appeal than a conventional period series.
Selahattin Paşalı Joins Deniz as Rıza
Selahattin Paşalı will star opposite Deniz as Rıza. The production confirmed the casting in September, with reports noting that the two actors appeared together in period costumes for the initial poster shoot.
The pairing also carries an interesting screen connection. Deniz and Paşalı previously appeared together in the Turkish Netflix series Love 101, although their roles in that production differed from the characters they will portray here.
For The Hatmaker Women, their reunion takes place in a completely different dramatic environment: early Republican-era İzmir, where personal choices intersect with a rapidly changing society.
A Story Built Around the Hat Revolution
The historical setting is one of the series’ defining elements. Reports describe the story as taking place around the years of İzmir’s liberation and the social transformation associated with the Hat Revolution.
The central premise follows Ayşe as she challenges the course of her life and gradually enters the world of hatmaking and fashion. Turkish coverage has described her eventual transformation from a village woman into a style icon.
That premise creates several natural layers for the drama. There is Ayşe’s personal ambition, the changing social environment around her and the visual language of period fashion. Hats can function not only as costume pieces but also as symbols of identity, aspiration and social change.
This gives The Hatmaker Women an opportunity to build its visual identity around clothing, craftsmanship and the atmosphere of historical İzmir.
Why MIPCOM Cannes Matters for the Series
The decision to present the project around MIPCOM Cannes is significant from an international distribution perspective. MIPCOM describes itself as a major global marketplace where studios, broadcasters, distributors, creators and buyers meet to develop, acquire and distribute television and entertainment content.
For a Turkish series, international promotion at an industry market such as MIPCOM can place a new production in front of buyers before its domestic broadcast run begins.
The timing is particularly notable because the series is still in the pre-production stage. With filming planned for November, the Cannes presentation gives distributors an early opportunity to understand the project’s concept, cast and visual direction.
The first poster therefore does more than introduce two actors. It establishes the international visual identity of The Hatmaker and signals the producers’ intention to position the drama beyond the Turkish market.
What to Expect From The Hatmaker Women
The production team has not yet officially revealed several details, including the full cast, episode count, and complete international distribution arrangements. That makes it important to separate confirmed information from early industry reports.
O3 Medya is producing the project, with Ömür Atay directing and Şükrü Necati Şahin writing the script. Pınar Deniz will play Ayşe, while Selahattin Paşalı will portray Rıza. Production is expected to begin in November, and current reports name NOW as the Turkish broadcaster.
For readers following new Turkish series in 2026, the project stands out because its premise combines history, fashion and character-driven drama. The Cannes presentation adds another dimension: the series is being prepared with international television buyers in mind from an early stage.
With its first international poster now circulating and MIPCOM Cannes approaching, The Hatmaker Women has entered an important phase. The next major milestone will be the start of filming, when the carefully presented concept begins to take shape on screen.
Final Thought
The Hatmaker Women is shaping up to be an intriguing new chapter in Turkish television, combining history, fashion and personal transformation. With Pınar Deniz and Selahattin Paşalı leading the cast, its journey to MIPCOM Cannes marks an important first step toward introducing the series to a wider international audience. As filming approaches in November, all eyes will be on how this ambitious story comes to life.
Stay tuned to BuzzWithRiz.com for more updates on The Hatmaker Women and the latest Turkish drama news.
SOURCE: Birsen Altuntas, IMDB, MIPCOM Cannes, O3 Media
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