Red Alert (known as First Light on Israeli television), a four-part series about Israelis who saved lives on October 7, has been acquired by Paramount and will premiere worldwide on Paramount+ on October 7, a date which will mark two years since the Hamas massacre in Israel in which terrorists killed over 1200 and during which about 250 were taken hostage. Forty-eight of these hostages are still being held in Gaza, some of whom have died in captivity.
The first episode will air in Israel on Keshet 12 on October 4.
The project, created through a collaboration among Jewish National Fund USA Israel Entertainment Fund (IEF), Green Productions, and Keshet Media Group, was written and directed by Lior Chefetz (The Stronghold) and spearheaded by Hollywood producer and multiple Oscar-nominee Lawrence Bender (Pulp Fiction, Inglourious Bastards).
Inspired by the true events of October 7, the series aims to shed light on these very Israeli stories of heroism and terror and illuminate them for audiences around the world. The cast includes some of Israel’s top actors, including Rotem Sela, Miki Leon, Sarit Vino-Elad, Nevo Kimchi, Chen Amsalem, Rotem Abuhav, Israel Atias, Hisham Suliman, and Anat Hadid.
The true lives of Israelis on October 7
The stories were developed in close cooperation with the real people behind them. These include Batsheva Yahalomi (portrayed by Rotem Sela in the series) of Kibbutz Nir Oz, who escaped the Hamas terrorists and rescued her two daughters, while her son, Eitan, was abducted into Gaza and held alone for over 50 days, and her husband, Ohad, was murdered in captivity. Other stories will feature a woman from Ofakim who evacuated the wounded under fire, including her son Itamar; police who worked to save festival goers and staff from the Noval Music Festival; and a Bedouin (Hisham Suliman) who hid with his baby son after his wife was murdered and who later saved soldiers from a deadly ambush.
Bender, who was a guest of honor at the Jerusalem Film Festival this summer and who has spent a great deal of time in Israel working on the series, said in a statement, "I’ve been fortunate to produce films that touched audiences worldwide, but Red Alert is a particularly personal project. It tells the story of our people and of one day that changed everything. What makes it so powerful is that it’s not just drama – it’s real. The risks, emotions, and courage are universal. I am proud that, through Paramount, these voices will now be heard across the globe."
In an interview with the Jerusalem Post in July, he said, “It’s about ordinary people, just different people who you would not necessarily look at as being heroes, who do heroic things… These are underdog stories that will show what ordinary people had to do to survive that day.”
David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount said, "Red Alert highlights Paramount’s continued commitment to storytelling through artistic excellence and accuracy. This critical series cinematically captures the horrific terrorism that stunned the world on Oct. 7 with harrowing precision and inspires with these true-life stories of heroism and heartbreak. We thank Avi, Keshet and Lawrence for trusting us with their vision.”
Avi Nir, executive producer and CEO of Keshet Media Group said, “The partnership with Paramount marks a significant milestone in fulfilling the vision of Red Alert, which was born as a shared dream between Tel Aviv and Los Angeles. We are beyond grateful and proud that, through our deal with Paramount +, the series will now reach tens of millions of viewers around the globe, alongside its release in Israel. It is vital that the world bears witness to that horrific day —a day that has yet to end for so many of us. It is vital that we, and the world, come to know the people who became reluctant heroes, in the face of horror and loss. Our deepest gratitude goes first and foremost to them, and now also to David Ellison and the Paramount team for their faith and determination.”
Nati Dinnar, the founder of the Israel Entertainment Fund (IEF), said, “From the very first moment this project was presented to the us and JNF-USA, we all understood how critical it was for a global audience to experience this story. We are deeply appreciative of Paramount for ensuring that through Red Alert, the world will not only learn about the events of October 7, but also witness the resilience and spirit that emerged that day.”
Red Alert was co-created by Ruth Efroni and co-written by Kineret Peled and Idan Hubel. Executive producers include Green Productions’ Maya Fischer, Shani Ettinger Sror, Roi Kurland, and Gal Greenspan; Bender Brown Productions’ Lawrence Bender and Kevin Kelly Brown; Jordana Reuben Yechiel; Mika Rode; Keshet Media Group’s Avi Nir; and Israel Entertainment Fund’s Nati Dinnar and Russel Robinson. Other funding partners include the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and The Film & Media Collaborative: the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund, the Avi Chai Foundation and the Maimonides Fund.