David Farnor | On 10, Jul 2020

Netflix is digging up new Belgian series Soil to bring it to international audiences.

The eight-episode drama is based on an idea by Zouzou Ben Chikha, Dries Heyneman and Wannes Capelle and directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys For Life), alongside Mathieu Mortelmans (Unité 42, Gent West, Vermist).

When a Muslim dies in Belgium their family is left with the dilemma: “Do we bury them here or do we honor their last wishes and take them back to where they were born?” The young Ishmael “Smile” Boulasmoum, who together with his sister inherits his father’s repatriation business, finds a solution: what if they bring soil from Morocco to bury their dead in it? Without realising it, they open Pandora’s coffin and start a new business.

Produced by Jan De Clercq of Lunanime, part of the Lumière Group, the series stars Yassine Ouaich (GR5), Charlotte De Bruyne (De Twaalf), Barbara Sarafian (Gevoel Voor Tumor), Tom Vermeir (De Twaalf), Reinhilde Decleir (Beau Séjour), Saïd Boumazoughe (Patser), Mourade Zeguendi (Gina & Chantal), Ahlaam Teghadouini (Hoodie), Dries Heyneman (Bevergem), Ward Kerremans (Penoza), Emilie De Roo (16+) and Wannes Cappelle (Bevergem).

Netflix has partnered with production company Lunanime (part of the Lumiere Group) and SBS Belgium to premiere Soil in countries worldwide, except for Belgium, Germany and German-speaking Austria and Switzerland.

Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah commented: “Soil tells a story that is very recognisable to us as Muslims and Moroccans but at the same time has a universal character because of the subject of family and bereavement. We are beyond excited to be directing here in Belgium again after our adventure in Hollywood. We have an amazing cast, a superb script and we can’t wait to finally start with Soil. We look forward to being back on set in the city where it all started: Brussels.”

The show will première in Belgium on VIER and will be available on Netflix globally six months after the air date of the last episode.

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