Israeli TV thriller ‘When Heroes Fly’ acquired by Netflix

Israeli television drama “When Heroes Fly” has been sold to Netflix, joining several other Hebrew-language series already featured on the popular streaming platform.

The show’s 10 episodes will be available to millions of viewers around the world starting in early 2019, along with English subtitles, Israeli and international reports said Monday.

“When Heroes Fly” is the story of four veterans of a special IDF commando unit from the 2006 Lebanon War who reunite, 11 years later, for a final mission — to rescue the girlfriend of one of the commandos who was abducted by a cartel in Colombia.

The show was created by writer and director Omri Givron, co-creator of the Israeli show “Hostages,” and based on a book by late Israeli author Amir Gutfreund. It stars Tomer Kapon, known for his role in “Fauda”; Ninet Tayeb; and Moshe Ashkenazi.

The deal marks the first with Netflix for Keshet International, the global branch of Israeli broadcaster Keshet. “When Heroes Fly” was Keshet’s most successful drama show in Israel since the country’s largest commercial television channel, Channel 2, split several years ago into two competing channels, Keshet and Reshet.

A poster for Israeli drama series “When Heroes Fly.” (Keshet)

“We are thrilled to be announcing this global deal with Netflix,” said Keshet International COO and president Keren Shahar. “‘When Heroes Fly’ is one of those series that instantly grabs you and keeps you hooked until the very end. Featuring breathtaking cinematography and a stellar cast, this series feels completely international and totally at home on a global platform like Netflix.”

The show debuted in May and was quickly guaranteed a second season, which is due next year.

In April, the show won best series at the first Canneseries festival, a new competition aimed at highlighting international television shows.

Keshet’s Los Angeles-based subsidiary is reportedly developing a US version of the show.

JTA contributed to this report.