NBCUniversal Formats partners with TVision for Arabic Adaptation of Suits

The Arabic adaptation will be produced by TVision and has been commissioned as an OSN Original and is set to premiere on its FTA channels and its streaming app Watchit for Ramadan 2022 (April 2nd).

Marks the first time UMS acquires the rights for a local adaptation of a top US hit series

The Arabic adaptation is the latest international adaptation of the series following sales to Japan & Korea via NBCUniversal Formats.

Originally created by Aaron Korsh and produced by UCP, which is part of Universal Studio Group, and Hypnotic Films & Television, for the USA Network, Suits tells the story of Manhattan’s top corporate law firm, which is led by the legendary Harvey Specter, played by Gabriel Macht (Behind Enemy Lines, Spin City). It also stars Rick Hoffman (Ballers, Law & Order: LA, Hostel), Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy) and Sarah Rafferty (Law & Order: Criminal Intent). Suits originally aired on the USA Network for nine seasons from 2011 to 2019.

The Arabic version of Suits will be written by Mohamed Hefzy and Yasser Abdel Mageed, directed by Myriam Ahmadi, and produced by Founder and CEO of TVision Media Productions, Tarek El Ganainy. It features a star-studded cast of local talent – including Asser Yassin as Harvey, Ahmed Dawoud as Mike, Saba Mubarak as Jessica, Reem Mostafa as Donna, Tara Emad as Rachel, and Mohamed Shahin as Louis. Filming began in January 2022 and the first two seasons (30 episodes).

This project strengthens the relationship between TVision, OSN, UMS, and Universal Studio Group’s NBCUniversal Formats, building on their huge success collaborating on SNL Arabia which ran for four seasons in the Middle East.

Enrique Guilleìn, EVP, Commercial Strategy and International Development, Universal Studio Group, commented: ‘Suits is one of the most popular TV shows in the world, and we are thrilled to be adapting it for Middle Eastern audiences and partnering once again with our friends at TVision. Powered by incredible local talent both on and off-screen, this new adaptation will bring the universal themes of Suits to life in a way that will excite and connect fans across the region’.

Tarek El Ganainy, Founder and CEO of TVision Media Productions, said: ‘We are thrilled to launch the Arabic version of Suits, an international adaptation one of the most successful and popular television series. Repurposing this type of show into regional formats is vitally important in the context of Egypt’s ongoing development as a mature and compelling media market. While it remains heavily inspired by the American drama, our version is unique and authentic to Egypt, featuring a celebrated cast of regional stars. The first two seasons will air in Ramadan 2022 and will be available to a wide audience, with OSN and UMS sharing the rights in Egypt, and OSN exclusively making it available to viewers across the rest of the Middle East. We are also proud to have strengthened our relationship with NBCUniversal Formats and look forward to continued collaboration on future projects’.

Nick Forward, Managing Director Streaming & Chief Content Officer at OSN, said: ‘OSN is committed to creating and producing premium, world class Arabic content that resonates with the audience. We are delighted to be working with TVision, especially regional storytellers like Tarek, and investing in local adaptions to bring this new version of Suits exclusively to our subscribers across the Middle East. It also demonstrates OSN’s continued commitment to investing in and adapting world class formats to tailor them for the local audience’.

Hassan Abdalla, Chairman & CEO of United Media Services, commented: ‘As a media market, Egypt continues to mature and has an ever-increasing appetite for repurposing international programmes into regional formats. We were particularly keen to secure the rights to TVision’s adaptation of Suits - to air exclusively on the UMS channels in Egypt and on Watchit - as it shows a side of Egypt and Egyptian drama not commonly portrayed or recognised. There is no better way to do this than repurposing one of the most popular television shows in the last decade and broadcasting it during Ramadan 2022’.