ALBAWABA - Burak Özçivit new co-star Beyza Gümülcine undergoes major character change before filming.
Turkish actress Beyza Gümülcine is preparing for the biggest role of her career after being selected as the female lead opposite Burak Özçivit in ATV's highly anticipated new drama Güneşin Doğduğu Yer. As production moves closer to filming, new details have emerged about both her casting process and changes made to her character.
According to Turkish entertainment reports, Gümülcine will star alongside Burak Özçivit, who plays the series' central character, Kenan Kozan. The project is produced by Tims&B Productions (Tims&B), one of Türkiye's leading television production companies, and is already being viewed as one of ATV's flagship dramas for the upcoming season.
One of the latest developments concerns Gümülcine's character. Turkish media report that the role was originally introduced under the name Tina, but the production team has since decided to rename the character Leyla before filming begins. Although no official explanation has been given for the change, it reflects the ongoing creative refinements taking place during pre-production.
Reports also reveal that Beyza Gümülcine earned the leading role through a competitive casting process. According to Turkish entertainment journalist Birsen Altuntaş, the actress participated in a screen test alongside three other finalists at a specially prepared set organized by the production company.
During the auditions, each candidate reportedly performed scenes opposite Burak Özçivit. Following the evaluations, the production team selected Gümülcine after concluding that her on-screen chemistry with Özçivit best matched the vision for the series.
Securing the role also required a significant professional decision. Gümülcine had most recently appeared as Hande in the crime drama Yeraltı, but Turkish media report that she requested to leave that production after being cast in Güneşin Doğduğu Yer.
The move highlights the scale of her new opportunity, with the actress transitioning from a supporting role in one successful series to becoming the female lead in one of the season's most closely watched television projects.
Güneşin Doğduğu Yer is set in Adana and revolves around the influential Kozan family, with Burak Özçivit portraying Kenan Kozan. The drama is expected to combine romance, family conflict, power struggles, and regional traditions against the backdrop of southern Türkiye.
Recent casting announcements have continued to expand the ensemble. Sibel Taşçıoğlu has been cast as Celadet, Kenan's mother, while Hilal Anay will portray Hanzade, an educated young woman from a respected family whom Celadet initially considers an ideal match for her son before Leyla enters the story.
Filming is expected to begin in August, with production taking place primarily in Adana.
For Beyza Gümülcine, the project represents a major breakthrough. Although she has steadily built her career through television roles, starring opposite one of Türkiye's biggest actors places her at the center of one of the country's most anticipated new dramas.
As production enters its final preparation stage, attention has increasingly turned toward the new partnership between Burak Özçivit and Beyza Gümülcine. Following a successful screen test, a character name change, and her departure from Yeraltı, the actress now prepares to introduce audiences to Leyla, a role that could become the defining performance of her career.
