BRIDGING LONDON AND ISTANBUL: Turkish Rock Icon Aykan İlkan Steps into Cinema as Ancient Philosopher Plat

Strengthening the cultural bridge between London and Istanbul, FabUK Production’s latest feature Yemek The Movie highlights a captivating debut performance by Turkish rock veteran Aykan İlkan. His compelling presence has inspired director Ebru Cengiz Ergen to shape Plato—a central character in the upcoming sequel—around him, preparing to offer İlkan both the starring role and the position of Music Director.

Renowned for his technical mastery on drums and decades of iconic work with bands like Kargo and Şebnem Ferah, Aykan İlkan brings a fictionalized version of himself to life in Yemek The Movie. To preserve a raw, authentic connection between the performers and the audience, Ergen chose to have cast members retain their real names. Appearing across 15 minutes of the feature, İlkan portrays a man channeling inner rage into intense physical workouts while attempting to evade dangerous, unidentified pursuers.

From the Boxing Ring to a Mystical Dinner Table

İlkan’s narrative arc opens inside a boxing gym, where his character is unexpectedly confronted by time-traveler Ellen (Olga Rohmir). Transported through a mystical command to an unfamiliar home, İlkan finds himself at a dinner table forced to face humanity’s collective grief. As Ellen places her hand on his forehead, she whispers a single, pivotal word—”Plato”—leaving his head to collapse onto the table and setting the stage for the next chapter in the franchise.

Director Ebru Cengiz Ergen notes that İlkan’s innate stage rhythm translated effortlessly into screen presence, silence, and timing:

“When I first evaluated Aykan, I recognized a distinct aura recalling Tyler Durden—volatile on the outside, yet deeply experienced and fragile underneath. His improvised expressions and piercing gaze proved that this depth translated effortlessly behind the lens.”

Plato in the Contemporary World

The sequel, Yemek The Movie – Ben Senim (I Am You), brings Plato into today’s world as a contemporary figure. The film serves as an ancient philosopher’s elegy for the modern era, examining the existential void created by technology, chaotic spiritualism, and primal pragmatism.

In a key sequence, Plato performs İlkan’s solo track “Sensin”, drawing the surrounding crowd into a state of collective hypnosis. Deeply moved by the song’s cinematic potential, Ergen decided to officially invite İlkan to helm the sequel’s entire musical direction alongside his lead role.

Release Details:

Co-produced by London-based FabUK Production and 24 Kare (Producers: Cem Kaplan, Ali Kaygısız, Ebru Cengiz Ergen), Yemek The Movie premieres on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 18:00 at the İBB Beyoğlu Cinema in Istanbul, followed by its nationwide theatrical release across Turkey on September 11, 2026, via distribution partner Cinemy Academy.