Global Premiere: Netflix Unveils Orhan Pamuk’s ‘The Museum of Innocence’

CULTURE & LIFE
14/02/2026

ISTANBUL – Netflix has officially launched its latest prestige limited series, an adaptation of Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk’s world-renowned novel, The Museum of Innocence. The nine-episode drama, which premiered on 13 February, has already shattered viewing records in Turkey and reached over one million households within its first 24 hours.

The Production

Produced by the acclaimed Ay Yapım, the series marks a significant milestone in Turkish television. Directed by Zeynep Günay and written by Ertan Kurtulan, the project was developed under the direct and rigorous supervision of Pamuk himself. The author spent eighteen months collaborating on the script to ensure the essence of 1970s Istanbul was captured with absolute fidelity.

The Cast

The series features a stellar ensemble of Turkish talent:

Selahattin Paşalı as Kemal, the obsessive protagonist.
Eylül Lize Kandemir as Füsun, the object of his longing.
Supporting Cast: The production boasts veterans such as Tilbe Saran, Bülent Emin Yarar, and Ercan Kesal.

Cultural Impact

The series arrives as Turkey solidifies its position as the world’s third-largest exporter of television series, following only the US and the UK. Uniquely, the show is intrinsically linked to the physical Museum of Innocence in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district—the first museum in the world to be based on a work of fiction. Visitors who have been inspired by the book for the last 15 years are now expected to flock to the site in even greater numbers following the global Netflix release.