BBC buys war drama ‘Kabul’ with late star Eric Dane
The BBC buys war drama “Kabul,” a six-part thriller starring the late Eric Dane and Tehran’s Shervin Alenabi, for iPlayer and BBC Four. Acquired from Mediawan Rights, the series dramatizes the chaotic August 2021 evacuation of Kabul as U.S. forces withdrew and the Taliban returned.
Key Takeaways
- The BBC has acquired the six-part series “Kabul” from Mediawan Rights.
- Eric Dane appears in one of his final roles opposite Shervin Alenabi and a European cast.
- The thriller launches on BBC iPlayer on Aug. 2 and airs on BBC Four from Aug. 15.
- The story follows civilians, diplomats, soldiers, and intelligence services during the 2021 withdrawal.
What is the BBC’s new series ‘Kabul’ about?
Set on Aug. 15, 2021, “Kabul” unfolds as American troops pull out and the Taliban re-enter the Afghan capital. The Nazany family, like many civilians, is forced to flee amid fears of retaliation.
According to the official synopsis, French police officers, Italian diplomats, German military personnel, and American intelligence services must scramble to manage a surge of civilians—while the threat of an ISIS attack hangs over the evacuation. The countdown, and the chaos, drive the drama.
BBC head of program acquisition Nick Lee called it “a tragedy of the highest stakes,” arguing the show “dramatises the biggest view of history through the smallest window of a human family.” The evacuation it depicts took place just five years ago this summer, giving the thriller a sharp real-world frame for streaming and TV alerts audiences.
Who stars in ‘Kabul,’ and who made it?
Alongside Dane and Alenabi—known for “Tehran”—the cast includes Jonathan Zaccaï, Thibault Evrard, Vassilis Kukalawi, Jeanne Goursaud, Gianmarco Saurino, and Valentina Cervi. Dane’s appearance is being framed as one of his last roles.
Kasia Adamik and Olga Chajdas direct from a screenplay by Olivier Demangel, Thomas Finkelkraut, and Joey Lavy. France’s 24 25 Films and Cinétévé produce, with Fabienne Servan-Schreiber and Charlotte Ortiz, plus Matthias Weber and Thibault Gast, among the producers; Sandrine Paquot exec produces.
The series was made in collaboration with the European Alliance, with Mediawan Rights handling global sales—the deal that brought the title to the BBC, as first reported by Variety.
When can you watch ‘Kabul’ on the BBC?
“Kabul” will stream on the BBC’s iPlayer platform starting Aug. 2. Linear broadcasts follow on BBC Four from Aug. 15, lining up with the anniversary window of the events the series dramatizes.
For viewers tracking new acquisitions, the six-part run offers a compact binge on iPlayer before—or alongside—the BBC Four airings. Expect a high-stakes ensemble thriller rather than a single-hero war story, with the evacuation’s ticking clock as the engine.
If you follow global TV pickups, this BBC buy keeps “Kabul” on the radar for English-language audiences as the summer anniversary of the 2021 withdrawal approaches.