Kabul BBC release date set for Eric Dane war drama
BBC will stream Kabul on iPlayer from Aug. 2 before BBC Four airs the six-part Afghanistan evacuation drama from Aug. 15.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
The Kabul BBC release date is now on the books: the six-part war thriller will arrive on BBC iPlayer on Aug. 2, with a BBC Four broadcast following from Aug. 15, Variety reported.
The BBC has acquired “Kabul” from Mediawan Rights, according to Variety. The drama stars the late Eric Dane, in what Variety described in its headline as one of his last roles, alongside Shervin Alenabi of “Tehran.”
The series is set during the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s return to Kabul. According to the show’s synopsis cited by Variety, the story begins on Aug. 15, 2021, as the Taliban enter the city while American forces pull out.
What is Kabul about?
“Kabul” follows civilians, diplomats, soldiers and intelligence personnel caught in the rush to evacuate the Afghan capital, Variety reported. The synopsis centers on the Nazany family, who try to escape amid fear of retaliation, while officials from several countries attempt to manage the crush of people seeking safety.
The drama also brings in French police officers, Italian diplomats, German military personnel and American intelligence services, according to the synopsis. Their efforts unfold under the threat of a possible ISIS attack, adding a countdown element to the evacuation story.
Nick Lee, the BBC’s head of program acquisition, called “Kabul” “a tragedy of the highest stakes” in comments reported by Variety. Lee said the show uses “the real ticking clock of the evacuation” and frames a broad moment in history through the experience of a family.
Who stars in Kabul?
The cast includes Eric Dane and Shervin Alenabi, with Jonathan Zaccaï of “Le bureau des legendes,” Thibault Evrard of “The Night of the 12th,” Vassilis Kukalawi of “Kandahar,” Jeanne Goursaud of “Pax Massilia,” Gianmarco Saurino of “L’estate piu Calda” and Valentina Cervi of “Medici: Masters of Florence,” Variety reported.
Kasia Adamik, known for “No Escape,” and Olga Chajdas, known for “Imago,” direct the series, according to Variety. The screenplay is by Olivier Demangel, Thomas Finkelkraut and Joey Lavy.
Variety reported that “Kabul” is produced by France’s 24 25 Films and Cinétévé. Fabienne Servan-Schreiber and Charlotte Ortiz are producers for Cinétévé, while Matthias Weber and Thibault Gast are producers for 24 25 Films, a Mediawan company. Sandrine Paquot serves as executive producer.
The series was made in collaboration with the European Alliance, with Mediawan Rights handling global sales, according to Variety. For BBC viewers, the rollout starts online first, then moves to BBC Four less than two weeks later.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.