Valley of the Wolves () is a Turkish crime drama television series created by Osman Sñnav and Raci à Âaà Âmaz, which originally aired on Show TV. The show focuses on the protagonist Agent Polat Alemdar, an undercover operative who joins the mafia and becomes the partner of a known mafia gunman, Süleyman ÃÂakñr. The show makes direct and indirect references to Turkish politics. The show was subsequently acquired by Kanal D for its final season.
Valley of the Wolves became the most successful TV show in Turkey. Multiple successful feature films were made based on the show, including ', ' and '.
Guest appearances for the series included Rauf Denktaà Â, founding president of Northern Cyprus; as well as Andy GarcÃÂa and Sharon Stone.
Ali Candan (played by Raci à Âaà Âmaz), who has carried out many successful operations abroad on behalf of the KGT, was called back to Turkey while he was in Kosovo by his superior, Aslan Akbey (Selçuk Yöntem), and assigned his most critical mission: the Valley of the Wolves Operation. The goal of this mission is to dismantle the Wolvesâ Council, the most powerful mafia organization, of which Mehmet Karahanlñ (Zafer Ergin) is the baron. This task is no easy feat, as the Wolvesâ Council is incredibly powerful, controlling an amount of money equivalent to half of TurkeyâÂÂs annual national income.
In June 2002, Show TV asked director Osman Sñnav to create a Turkish version of the American series Wiseguy. The Deli Yürek series had just finished, and the director and writers had no specific project in mind. However, when they learned that the series was based on a show they had frequently watched, they realized it was something they were already familiar with, and they began working on the script.
At the request of Raci à Âaà Âmaz, Soner Yalçñn joined the show as a concept consultant. It was agreed that the series would not carry over any elements from Deli Yürek and would instead take a completely different, unprecedented approach.
Even six years after the Susurluk scandal, the public was still curious about the deep state, the mafia, the underground world, and their interconnections. This curiosity helped shape the theme of the show.
By July 2002, the general framework of the series began to take shape. One of the unique aspects was that the lead actor would not appear in the first episode but would start playing the role in the second episode after a face change. Another distinctive feature was that many key actors, who would play significant roles later in the series, appeared very briefly or not at all in the first season.
Osman Sñnav initially wanted a softer title, but after insistence from Raci à Âaà Âmaz and Soner Yalçñn, the title of the series was decided upon.
The characters were largely inspired by real people. As the writers worked on the script, they kept track of current events (such as the Iraq War, the 1 March motion, etc.), and these events were incorporated into the show. While the writers had major disagreements on certain contemporary issues, they only wrote the parts they had reached a consensus on.
When Osman SñnavâÂÂs new project was announced, many people assumed Kenan ðmirzalioÃÂlu would be cast as the lead. However, Sñnav offered the role to Cenk Torun, who turned it down without asking any questions about it. In the end, Osman Sñnav chose Necati à Âaà Âmaz, who had no prior acting experience, for the role.
The role of Elif, the female lead, was initially offered to Oylum Talu, but she declined. After that, ÃÂzgü Namal was considered for the role. At the time, she was dating Oktay Kaynarca, but after both sides agreed, she was cast.
The team worked with Abidin Yerebakan to arrange the weapons for the casino scenes, and they reached an agreement to have him appear in the series in exchange. Although Yerebakan didnâÂÂt keep his part of the deal, he played the role of Abidin SeferoÃÂlu in the series, marking his acting debut.
Great care was taken in selecting the cast for the council roles, with all the actors chosen from the State Theatre artists.
Ali Candan (Raci à Âaà Âmaz), after saying goodbye to all his loved ones for a difficult mission heâÂÂs been assigned, is shown to have "died" in a car accident and undergoes surgery to receive a new face. HeâÂÂs given a new identity: Polat Alemdar (Necati à Âaà Âmaz). Polat is presented as the nephew of an old mobster, Duran Emmi, allowing him to infiltrate the mafia world. One day, Süleyman ÃÂakñr (Oktay Kaynarca), a hitman in the hierarchy of the Wolvesâ Council who performs assassinations on behalf of the council, goes to visit Duran Emmi at his café in Salacak. There, he meets Polat for the first time. As ÃÂakñr and Emmi are leaving the café, theyâÂÂre attacked by ÃÂakñrâÂÂs rival, à Âevko. Sensing the ambush, Polat quickly pushes both ÃÂakñr and Emmi to the ground, saving their lives. From that moment, ÃÂakñr and Polat become blood brothers and carry out many successful operations together.
PolatâÂÂs successes catch the attention of the Wolvesâ Council, and he gradually meets its members, including Mehmet Karahanlñ, Laz Ziya, Kñlñç, and Testere Necmi.
Eventually, like ÃÂakñr, Polat begins working for the council and rises in its ranks until he becomes its baron. Along the way, while eliminating many enemiesâÂÂsuch as Pala and his team, Kirve, the Russian Council, and other harmful groupsâÂÂPolat also loses several close friends, including Süleyman ÃÂakñr, Aslan Akbey (Selçuk Yöntem), Seyfo Dayñ (Nihat Nikerel), and Elif Eylül (ÃÂzgü Namal).
In 2005, the Wolvesâ Council collapses due to internal conflicts and other factors, with its last member, Nizamettin Güvenç, is hanged by Polat Alemdar. This marks the successful conclusion of the "Valley of the Wolves" operation. After the councilâÂÂs fall, Polat travels to Los Angeles to meet Amon (Andy Garcia), the World Baron of the Templars, to whom the council was secretly connected. Amon proposes an alliance and requests documents kept in a cryptic device called the Cryptex, which contains records of the councilâÂÂs activities against Turkey and other connected entities. However, Polat refuses AmonâÂÂs request, makes an agreement with him, and returns to Turkey.