Apple TV+ to Offer Russian-Language Content Through New First-Look Deal

Russian-language shows are likely headed to Apple TV+, as Variety reports that Apple has signed a first-look deal with AR Content, a production company led by Ukranian and Russian producer and director Alexander Rodnyansky.

loveless 2017 film

A scene from Russian film "Loveless" produced by Alexander Rodnyansky

The deal will reportedly provide Apple with an opportunity to secure Russian-language and multilingual shows for Apple TV+, set both inside and outside Russia, with both Russian and international writers and directors.

"Apple is extremely interested to explore the possibilities in that part of the world," said Rodnyansky, who received Academy Award nominations for the 2014 film "Leviathan" and 2017 film "Loveless." "It's going to be the very first of all the global streaming platforms to sign a strategic partnership with a company with Russian roots."

Apple TV+ is gradually expanding its non-English content. Israeli spy thriller series "Tehran" has primarily Hebrew dialogue, and last month, Apple greenlit contemporary thriller "Liaison" as its first French-language series.

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
icloud private relay outage

iCloud Private Relay Experiencing Outage

Thursday July 25, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service is down for some users, according to Apple’s System Status page. Apple says that the iCloud Private Relay service may be slow or unavailable. The outage started at 2:34 p.m. Eastern Time, but it does not appear to be affecting all iCloud users. Some impacted users are unable to browse the web without turning iCloud Private Relay off, while others are...

Top Rated Comments

LeadingHeat Avatar
40 months ago
As long as it’s top tier production quality, I’m all in for this! I loved Tehran and welcome more international series and films.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I@beck Avatar
40 months ago
I am glad to see that Apple is going multilingual/series. Good Jobs Apple. ?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alexandr Avatar
40 months ago

While good move for their business with getting more regional conent in local languages available, I hope that theres going to be some quality stuff, which Russian and Ukraine content has never brimmed with, same cheap police series, soap operas of low quality like the ones from Mexico, basically low budget low quality series and movies.
When they do get some more money they just make some horrible cliche stuff copied from Hollywood without the production and performance quality of Hollywood and with plot being so horribly cheesy together with horrendous acting.

Heres hope that Im going to be wrong and they(Apple) will push for more original, world class quality content, because, IMHO, its always interesting to see good quality arts coming from different parts of the world, different cultures with different views on the world were living.

why don't you watch "loveless" first and then share your insights.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Agrailag Avatar
40 months ago

While good move for their business with getting more regional conent in local languages available, I hope that theres going to be some quality stuff, which Russian and Ukraine content has never brimmed with, same cheap police series, soap operas of low quality like the ones from Mexico, basically low budget low quality series and movies.
When they do get some more money they just make some horrible cliche stuff copied from Hollywood without the production and performance quality of Hollywood and with plot being so horribly cheesy together with horrendous acting.

Heres hope that Im going to be wrong and they(Apple) will push for more original, world class quality content, because, IMHO, its always interesting to see good quality arts coming from different parts of the world, different cultures with different views on the world were living.

As russian i should say, that we have enough good quality stuff, but most are art-films.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jimbobb24 Avatar
40 months ago
I welcome more Russian content. Netflix has some great stuff and for awhile I was only watching Russian shows. “Better than Us” I thought was more interesting than Ex Machina.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
VaruLV Avatar
40 months ago

Implying American tv is brimming with quality lmao

careful with that last comment the jannies here don’t take to kindly to reasonable thought

tbh I hope they bring us season 3 of silver spoon. Netflix really dropped the ball on that one.
Haha, lol, no, I dont think that all western content is quality, but you got the picture I think :D !
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)