Four years after Bir Zamanlar Çukurova ended its run, Tims&B Productions is heading back to the same soil for a new ATV series Güneşin Doğduğu Yer. And this time, they’ve brought Burak Özçivit with them.
That alone is enough to get people talking. Bir Zamanlar Çukurova wasn’t just a hit in Turkey it built a loyal audience abroad too, the kind of show people being years after it aired. So when the same production house announces a return to the region, on the same Thursday slot, comparisons were always going to follow.
Burak Özçivit Leads a Powerful Cast
The series brings together Burak Özçivit, Sibel Taşçıoğlu, Görkem Sevindik and Beyza Gümülcine in key roles.
According to Turkish entertainment reports, promotional poster photography took place last Friday at Beykoz Kundura Factory in Istanbul. Beyza Gümülcine has also undergone a noticeable image transformation for her role, including extending her hair with extensions.
Filming for the Istanbul portions of the production has already begain, while shooting in Adana is schedule to start on August 15, 2026.
The return to Adana is particularly significant. Çukurova has long been an important backdrop for large-scale Turkish dramas, offering landscapes and historic locations that naturally complement stories built around family, tradition and social tensions.
Kenan Kozan’s Story Takes Center Stage
At the heart of Güneşin Doğduğu Yer is Kenan Kozan, a man whose life changes after meeting Leyla in Germany.
Kenan falls deeply in love with Leyla and eventually marries her despite the objections of his mother, Celadet, played by Sibel Taşçıoğlu. His decision carries him into a new chapter as a husband and father, while placing his relationship with his mother under intense pressure.
Rather than focusing solely on romance, the story appears designed to explore the complicated ties between parents and children, personal freedom, marriage and family expectations.
That emotional foundation could give the series a broader appeal, particularly for viewers who enjoy Turkish family dramas where personal choices collide with deeply rooted traditions.
Who’s in it
Özçivit leads the cast alongside Sibel Taşçıoğlu, Görkem Sevindik, and Beyza Gümülcine. According to reports out of the Turkish entertainment press, the poster shoot happened last Friday at the Beykoz Kundura Factory in Istanbul and Gümülcine has apparently gone through a visible transformation for her role, hair extensions included.
Istanbul filming is already underway. The Adana leg the part that’ll actually put Çukurova on screen starts August 15.
and captivating the drama is expected to be.
The combination of a major star, a prominent production company and the Çukurova setting makes Güneşin Doğduğu Yer one of the Turkish dramas to watch in the 2026–27 television season.
When to expect it
ATV is reportedly aiming for a launch around September 17 or 24, though the exact date will likely shift depending on how filming goes. One detail worth noting: the show is set to film at the Yamanlar Mansion, the same location tied to Bir Zamanlar Çukurova. Different story, same walls and that’s probably not an accident. It’s the kind of callback that’s bound to get longtime fans curious, whether the connection ends up mattering to the plot or not.
Worth watching?
There’s a lot working in its favor on paper: a recognizable lead, a production team that already knows how to do Çukurova justice, and a family conflict with real dramatic weight. Whether it lands will ultimately depend on how well the creators execute Kenan and Leyla’s story, earn its emotional stakes, and avoid relying solely on nostalgia for the last show that used this backdrop.
We’ll know more once the Adana shoot gets underway later this month.
Source
- Turkish television industry reports
- Tims&B
- Official confirmation by ATV
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