Rocket fire forces TV show to flee to Turkey

The production of Tyrant is leaving Tel Aviv because of the ongoing rocket fire in Israel.

The television drama, which was co-created by Israeli writer Gideon Raff, will move its operations to Istanbul, Turkey, Variety reported July 16.

Air raid sirens and ongoing rocket fire from Gaza have disrupted the production, and members of the cast and crew have posted on social media about the stresses of running to bomb shelters.

The show’s producers reportedly hope to return the production to Israel if the situation allows it.

Tyrant, which airs on the American cable network FX, is set in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Abbudin.

Meanwhile, executives of the USA NetworkDig, which had been filming in and around Jerusalem, are waiting to determine their next move, according to a report  in TV Guide.

The show delayed its return to shooting from a hiatus because of the current violence. The break was to be extended by several days.

 Dig, which also was created by Raff,  was on hiatus when Operation Protective Edge began.

 “Our first priority is the safety of our cast and crew,” said a statement from Universal Cable Productions, according to TV Guide. “We will continue to assess the situation and plan accordingly.”

— JTA