Hit Israeli prison series Bad Boy, which broke out worldwide on Netflix, is returning for a second season.
Local network HOT has ordered a second run of the show from Euphoria creator Ron Leshem, Hagar Ben-Asher, Sipur and North Road.
Starring Daniel Chen and based on Chen’s life, Bad Boy tells the story of Dean, who is imprisoned in a cruel juvenile detention facility. While in jail, Dean bonds with Zoro, a grim and mysterious teenage prisoner serving time for murder. He also learns to harness his unique intelligence and creativity and, 20 years later, these traits define him as a star comedian.
Netflix picked up rights outside Israel to Season 1 and the show subsequently featured in the Netflix top 10 of 45 countries, according to the streamer. No word yet on whether Netflix will take Season 2, although the streamer acquired Season 1 only once it had aired in Israel.
Sipur boss Emilio Schenker, who has been championing the project for years, said Season 2 “is a natural continuation of the story that captured the hearts of viewers in Israel and around the world.” “This is further proof of the power of our local stories and their ability to cross borders and cultures,” he added. “We are proud to continue our fruitful partnership with HOT and tell the next chapter in this extraordinary journey.”
Uri Gal, VP of Marketing and Content at HOT, added: “This is one of the series that defines our vision at HOT, to create bold, exciting and meaningful Israeli television that manages to move audiences all over the world. Viewers can expect a strong, exciting and surprising season – no less than the first season.”
Bad Boy won a number of Israeli Academy Awards and is nominated for an International Emmy. Leshem has previously spoken to us about how the first international co-pro backed by Peter Chernin’s North Road harks back to his time as an investigative journalist when he was assigned to a story in a juvenile prison.
