Cannonballs loaded: Can Yaman’s ‘Sandokan’ sails into Netflix US with blockbuster ambition

Netflix US is preparing to unleash one of the most explosive international series of the year. Sandokan, the high-budget pirate epic led by Turkish superstar Can Yaman, is officially set to make its American debut this January, marking a major streaming moment for global television fans.

After wrapping its Italian run just last week with strong ratings on Rai 1, the swashbuckling drama is wasting no time crossing the Atlantic. Netflix US has secured exclusive rights to the series, which has otherwise been tied to Disney+ in several international territories following its European rollout.

Netflix will release all eight episodes of Sandokan in the United States on Monday, January 19, 2026, positioning the show as a high-energy kickoff to the new year.

A modern reinvention of a cult classic

Produced by Lux Vide — the Italian powerhouse behind Medici and Leonardo — in collaboration with Rai Fiction, Sandokan is a lavish reimagining of the beloved 1970s television phenomenon. Though originally announced as a limited series, the show’s strong performance has already secured a confirmed second season.

The new adaptation draws inspiration from Emilio Salgari’s classic adventure novels and transports viewers to mid-19th-century Borneo, blending colonial-era politics with romance, rebellion, and large-scale action.

Showrunner Scott Rosenbaum (The Shield, Chuck), alongside directors Jan Maria Michelini and Nicola Abbatangelo, leads the international production, which filmed extensively throughout 2024.

Love, rebellion, and empire

Set in 1849, Sandokan follows the legendary pirate known as the “Tiger of Malaysia,” a fearless outlaw who commands a rebel crew fighting against the British Empire’s brutal colonial rule.

According to the official synopsis:

“Borneo, 1849. The native tribes are dominated by the ruthless law of the British colonialists. Sandokan is a pirate who lives day to day, fighting only for himself and his crew. Everything changes when he meets Marianna, the beautiful daughter of the British consul.

Their forbidden love ignites a war, as the legendary pirate hunter Lord James Brooke will stop at nothing to destroy Sandokan and erase his legend.”

The series balances large-scale action with an emotionally driven love story, positioning Sandokan not just as a rebel icon, but as a man forced to choose between freedom and fate.

An international cast built for global reach

The series boasts a truly global ensemble, blending Turkish, British, and Italian stars.

• Can Yaman (Erkenci Kuş) headlines the series as Sandokan, following months of intense physical training for the role. The project marks his first major English-language lead.

• Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl, White Gold) plays the ruthless antagonist Lord James Brooke, the infamous “White Rajah” of Sarawak.

• Alanah Bloor stars as Marianna Guillonk, known as the “Pearl of Labuan.”

• John Hannah (The Mummy, Spartacus) appears as the Colonel.

• Alessandro Preziosi (Medici) portrays Yanez de Gomera, Sandokan’s trusted lieutenant and closest ally.

With Yaman’s massive global fanbase and Westwick’s continued appeal among Gossip Girl viewers, Netflix appears to be betting on major binge potential.

What comes next?

While a second season has already been confirmed — with production eyed for 2026 and a potential 2027 release — it remains unclear whether Netflix will also serve as the future streaming home for the continuation.

One thing is certain: Sandokan arrives with momentum, spectacle, and international buzz firmly behind it.

Will the Tiger of Malaysia conquer Netflix’s US charts? Audiences will soon find out when Sandokan drops this January.