O3 Medya’s period drama The Hatmaker unveiled for MIPCOM, Eccho Rights to handle international sales

Turkish producer O3 Medya has taken its new period drama Şapkacı Kadınlar to the international market under the English title The Hatmaker, publishing a MIPCOM poster this week that pairs two of Turkey’s most visible performers, Pınar Deniz and Selahattin Paşalı. Eccho Rights confirmed on September 28, 2026 that it will handle worldwide sales for the series, which O3 Medya says will begin filming in November and aims for a Turkish broadcast in early 2027.

What the series is and who is involved

The Hatmaker is described as a sweeping historical drama set in the turbulent years after the founding of the Turkish Republic, focusing on Ayşe, a woman whose life is transformed by the social and cultural shifts of the era. Pınar Deniz is attached to play Ayşe, while Selahattin Paşalı will play Rıza, a central male figure whose relationship with Ayşe shapes much of the narrative. The series is created and written by Necati Şahin, directed by Ömür Atay, and produced by Suzan Sümeli for O3 Medya.

O3 Medya is positioning the project as a high production value period piece, and the new promotional artwork that will be used at MIPCOM frames the leads in stylized period costume, underlining the show’s era detail and costume emphasis. Turkish trade coverage published the poster and related production details on September 28, 2026, and Eccho Rights made the international sales announcement the same day.

Sales strategy and timing

Eccho Rights will present The Hatmaker to international buyers at MIPCOM in Cannes, using the market to seek pre sales and distribution deals ahead of the series’ domestic launch. In its announcement, Eccho Rights said the title will be offered to buyers for presales at the market, with the show planned to premiere in Türkiye in early 2027. O3 Medya told local outlets that principal photography is scheduled to begin in November 2026.

The move to place the series on the MIPCOM floor reflects a familiar pattern for Turkish producers aiming to extend revenues and reach beyond the domestic market. International distributors such as Eccho Rights commonly take Turkish format and drama properties to global buyers where the appetite for premium historical and female-led stories has been strong in recent years.

Why the development matters

There are three reasons the announcement is notable for the upcoming global TV slate. First, the casting of Pınar Deniz and Selahattin Paşalı brings two contemporary Turkish stars together in a single event project, creating clear marketable hooks for both domestic viewers and international buyers. Deniz has gained attention over the past few years for a mix of auteur cinema and prestige television work, while Paşalı has been prominent in recent successful series.

Second, the project’s historical setting taps a growing international appetite for locally rooted period dramas that foreground social change and personal reinvention. Buyers at global markets have shown interest in Turkish exports that deliver cinematic production values and distinctly national stories with universal themes.

Third, the timing is important for O3 Medya. Presenting a new series for presales at MIPCOM ahead of a domestic launch can secure additional financing, broaden distribution, and create momentum that supports marketing when the show debuts in Türkiye. Working with a distributor like Eccho Rights also signals an intent to pursue a wide distribution footprint quickly.

Context in the Turkish TV market

The Hatmaker follows a steady stream of Turkish projects that have been licensed or adapted abroad in recent seasons. Turkish dramas remain one of the country’s most valuable cultural exports, with producers increasingly building series intended from the outset for global licensing and format adaptation. Period pieces and stories centered on female agency have been especially effective in international sales conversations.

O3 Medya has a track record of producing series for both Turkish broadcasters and subscription platforms, and partnering with an established international sales agent reduces some of the commercial risk that comes with big period productions. For buyers attending MIPCOM, the combination of star casting, a clear production schedule, and a distributor ready to handle rights will make The Hatmaker an item to watch on the market floor.

What to expect next

Buyers at MIPCOM will evaluate advance materials and pick up presales that can help underwrite production costs before cameras roll. Locally, O3 Medya’s scheduling for an early 2027 Turkish premiere suggests a relatively compressed postproduction and delivery timetable, which in turn means international windowing and platform deals may follow quickly after the domestic launch.

For viewers, the project promises a combination of historical spectacle, costume-driven storytelling, and a character centered narrative anchored by two high profile performers. For the market, the series is a fresh example of how Turkish producers are crafting export friendly dramas that remain rooted in national history and culture.

Production and distribution developments for The Hatmaker are expected to evolve over the coming weeks as MIPCOM presales are recorded and additional broadcast or streaming partners are confirmed. For now, the release of the MIPCOM poster and Eccho Rights’ sales announcement mark the series’ formal introduction to the international industry ahead of cameras rolling in Türkiye this November.