Last month, I had the truly incredible honor of speaking to Sasson Gabay. The iconic Israeli actor had an amazing TV year in 2024. He helmed the “Shtisel” prequel “Kugel,” and had an important guest role in season three of the hit spy thriller “Tehran.”
Our conversation was mostly about “Kugel,” whose eight episodes are now streaming on the Israeli platform IZZY, but Gabay was also really excited to speak about his work on “Tehran,” the hit Apple TV+ and Kan 11 (Israel’s public TV broadcaster) production, which aired on the Israeli channel in December of 2024 but still isn’t available to stream on Apple TV+.
Gabay shared that he is so very proud of his work in the newest season of “Tehran,” which tells the story of Tamar Rabinayan (Niv Sultan) who goes on an undercover mission on behalf of the Mossad in the Iranian city and which also features Hugh Laurie from “House.” In the latest season “Tehran,” Gabay plays an Iranian Jew who lives in Tehran and works with the Mossad. “At first he is sent to take down Tamar [the show’s protagonist],” Gabay explained, “but there’s a change in the plan and he’s cooperating with her, all through the season, until the end… they become buddies, he’s always checking her but they’re buddies.”
Gabay and Sultan formed a close bond shooting together abroad. He said that the actress said “it was the first time she had someone really ‘working with her’,” and she was pleased to have a partner on set.
As for why the show still isn’t available stateside, Gabay said he understands that Apple, a gigantic American company, has its own considerations about when and whether to make the season streamable. The season was supposed to premiere in April of 2024 on both the channel and streaming platform, but in November of 2023, KAN shared that there were going to be some delays.
“We are currently considering creative changes for season four and therefore are not meeting the production schedules as planned,” the production company shared with Ynet in November of last year. A May 2024 statement from KAN said that they were in touch with representatives from Apple TV+ to schedule a new premiere date for the season, and that the postponement was agreed upon by both parties. Then, KAN announced that the show was premiering on their channel on Dec. 9, 2024.
The fans, and many of the reviewers, were crazy about the show, especially about Gabay and Laurie as guest stars. In the show, Laurie plays South African nuclear supervisor, Eric Peterson. Laurie was cast on the season after raving about the show to his agent and telling him that the only thing he had watched and really loved lately was “Tehran.” When his agent called to tell him that he was going to be in the third season, the famous British comedian and actor didn’t even ask to see the script, announcing right away that he was on board, without even knowing his character’s name.
Unfortunately, Apple TV+ is much more discerning that Laurie. There has been no news about when season three will air on the streaming platform, and when, or if, season four of the show will even begin production. The post-October 7 world has been very damaging to all Israeli industry, including, of course, the TV business.
But we do have some things to look forward to. The Israeli show “Bad Boy” is premiering on Netflix in May, and “Fauda” season five has also begun production and will hopefully be available on the streaming platform as well. But as to when we’ll get to watch season three of “Tehran” here in America? There is still, unfortunately, no update.
