Bad Boy (Israeli TV series)
| Bad Boy | |
|---|---|
| ילד רע | |
| Genre | Biography, Drama, Crime fiction |
| Created by | Ron Leshem, Daniel Chen |
| Directed by | Hagar Ben-Asher |
| Country of origin | Israel |
| Original language | Hebrew |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Original release | |
| Network | Hot |
| Release | November 2024 |
Bad Boy (Hebrew: ילד רע) is an Israeli drama series created by Ron Leshem, Daniel Amsel, Hagar Ben-Asher and comedian Daniel Chen. The series first launched on Israeli cable channel Hot in November 2024 and premiered on Netflix on May 2, 2025. The show stars Chen as Dean Shaiman and is a retelling of his four years in a youth detention center in Israel and his current life as a comedian.[1][2]
Premise
The eight-episode series switches back and forth in time between Dean's stint in a juvenile detention center, when he was 13 years old, and the present, where Dean is a successful comic haunted by his past.[1] While in jail, Dean bonds with Zoro, a teenage prisoner serving time for murder.[3]
The series is based on the real life story of Chen, who was born in Tel Aviv and served multiple sentences at Ofek Prison when he was a teenager.[4] Dean Shaiman is the birth name of Daniel Chen, who plays the adult version himself in the show.[5] Chen became a successful stand-up comedian in adulthood, as well as a television writer and actor.
Cast
Main
- Daniel Chen as Dean Shaiman
- Guy Menaster as the teenage Dean Shaiman
- Havtamo Farda as Zion Zoro, Dean's friend in prison
- Neta Plotnik as Tamara Sheyman, Dean's mother
- Liraz Chamami as Heli, the prison warden
Supporting
- Bat-Chen Sabag as Keren
- Ishay Lalosh as Feddie Soosan
- Amjad Shawa as Anhaisy
Most cast members were not professional actors and were acting for the first time in the series.[1]
Production
Bad Boy was the first international co-production deal struck by businessman Peter Chernin's The North Road Company, which served as co-studio alongside Israeli studio Sipur, while HOT and Tedy Productions served as producers.[6][7]
Writing
Leshem, who was formally an investigative journalist, incorporated elements into the series from a story he had written earlier in his career about teenage criminal imprisoned together. Leshem's story focused on children who are born in prison, many of whom return to prison as teenagers.[2] Leshem met Chen during his career as a reporter, when he embedded himself at Ofek Prison for two weeks. He also met real-life versions of other characters who make it into the show, such as Freddie Soosan, played by Ishay Laloosh.[5]
Leshem wrote the series with Ben-Asher, Chen, Amsel, Moshe Malka and Amit Cohen.[7]
Filming
The show was shot at the Ayalon Prison in Ramla, which is a fully operational prison, at a prison Tel Mond that was not operational and at a set created inside the Ramat Gan Tzofim building.[5]
Release
Bad Boy premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023.[8] It was first launched on Israel's HOT cable channel in November 2024. Netflix then acquired global streaming rights and launched the series on May 2, 2025.[9]
As of December 2024, Netflix is working on an American remake of Bad Boy.[8] In November 2025, HOT ordered a second season of the series.[10]
Reception
Israel
Bad Boy won seven awards at the Awards of the Israeli Television Academy, including Best Drama, Best Directing and Best Writing.[11]
International
Bad Boy was nominated for Best Drama Series at the 53rd International Emmy Awards in 2025.[12]
References
- 1 2 3 Steinberg, Jessica (2025-04-21). "Award-winning show about comic jailed as a teen comes to Netflix". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
- 1 2 Karra, Yulia (2025-04-28). "New Israeli hit 'Bad Boy' comes to Netflix". Unpacked. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
- ↑ Szalai, Georg (2023-03-22). "Peter Chernin's North Road Company Boards Israeli Crime Drama 'Bad Boy' From 'Euphoria,' 'Bosch' Creatives". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
- ↑ Fuente, Anna Marie de la (2025-11-19). "'Bad Boy' Co-Creator Ron Leshem: 'The Human Capacity to Feel Compassion and Empathy for Those Who Are Different Is Dying'". Variety. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
- 1 2 3 Zaltzman, Lior (2025-05-05). "Everything You Need to Know About Netflix's 'Bad Boy'". Kveller. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
- ↑ Yossman, K. J. (2024-11-26). "Netflix Snaps Up Israeli Drama 'Bad Boy' From 'Euphoria' Creator Ron Leshem – Global Bulletin". Variety. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- 1 2 Goldbart, Max (2024-11-26). "Netflix Picks Up Israeli Juvenile Prison Series 'Bad Boy' From 'Euphoria' Creator Ron Leshem & Hagar Ben-Asher". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- 1 2 Ford, Lily (2024-11-26). "Israeli Drama 'Bad Boy' From 'Euphoria' Creator Ron Leshem, Hagar Ben-Asher Gets Netflix Debut". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ Maglio, Tony (2025-05-02). "OG 'Euphoria' Creator Ron Leshem Made 'Bad Boy' Because "Empathy Is Just Being Slaughtered"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ Goldbart, Max (2025-11-03). "'Bad Boy' Renewed For Season 2 At Israeli Network HOT". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ↑ Goldbart, Max (2025-04-11). "Netflix Unveils Premiere Date For Israeli Series 'Bad Boy'". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
- ↑ Brown, Hannah (2025-09-26). "Israeli drama show Bad Boy nominated for Emmy | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2026-04-17.