English-Language Version Of Hit Israeli Comedy-Drama About Male Escorts In The Works From ‘Tehran’ Co-Producer Paper Entertainment

Get ready for the Honey Boys. That’s the title of the English-language version of Israeli comedy-drama Johnny and the Knights of the Galilee, which is being worked up by Tehran co-producer Paper Entertainment. The yes Studios-distributed series has already been successfully remade in France as Escort Boys.

The English-language take on the show will follow Ben, a struggling actor based in London, who returns to his hometown in Cornwall after his father’s death. His family farm is struggling and Ben and three childhood friends start an escorting business to make ends meet. What starts as a short-term fix becomes far more meaningful, rocking their pre-conceived ideas about love and sexuality.

The original Johnny and the Knights of the Galilee series was created, written and directed by Dani Rosenberg and Tom Shoval. It was made yes TV and July August Productions for Israel’s yes TV.

The French-language adaptation, Escort Boys, was made by Oberkampf Productions and Story Nation Productions and directed by Ruben Alves. It launched on Prime Video and a second season has been announced. The first season of the French show launches on free-to-air channel TF1 today, Dec. 2.

Julien Leroux Leroux is the former Newen and Cineflix exec who founded Paper Entertainment, which was a producer of award-winning Apple TV+ series Tehran.

Johnny and the Knights of the Galilee “is a brilliant and contemporary telling of an age-old story, with finely drawn, compelling characters and a huge amount of warmth, light humor and heart,” Leroux said. “It’s a perfect story for us to tell and we are excited to work with yes Studios in developing Honey Boys, an English-language version of the series for the international marketplace.”

The upcoming remake marks the latest scripted format deal for yes Studios, which is behind international agreements for shows including Your Honor. Deadline recently revealed a deal to work up a German-language version of hit Israeli psychologist drama Night Therapy.

“Julien and the team have an incredible reputation, so we are delighted that our format is in such good hands,” said Sharon Levi, Managing Director at yes Studios. “We look forward to working with Paper Entertainment over the coming months in taking this development to the next stage.”