“#Matched” is back for round two – or “#Matched2” – on TikTok.
The Australian comedy series had principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with Vic Screen, with financial support from TikTok.
“#Matched2” was created, directed and executive produced by Blacksand Pictures’ Kauthar Abdulalim and executive produced by Pennie Brown from Princess Pictures. Like its predecessor “#Matched”, “#Matched2” is written by Nazil Sevinc.
It tells the story of Areema (Murina Younus) and Mizra (Oz Malik) as they try to throw a humble cross-cultural wedding all on their own as they deal with external judgements and interference.
This season will also see Nazeem Hussain (“Orange is the New Brown”), Sajda Yakub, Irshad Khan, Claudia Greenstone, Manal Shehab and Tiffany Krylov join the cast.
A Muslim cultural briefing was held ahead of filming with Imam Alaa Elzokm in which a commitment was made to hire at least 50% Muslim cast and crew, with production accomodating prayer times during shoots, religious holidays considered throughout the production and other Muslim cultural considerations setting the tone to ensure a culturally safe environment.
Abdulalim and Brown were particularly proud of the Inclusion Rider, which was designed to create a production-specific cultural safety policy for the Muslim cast and crew. They said they believed it was the first of its kind in the Australian screen sector.
Abdulalim was full of excitement about the project.
“It’s such an exciting time to be a creator in the Australian screen industry where our authentic stories and experiences are given a platform to a global audience that has been neglected since forever,” she said.
“Bringing Areema and Mirza’s love story to life has been an exhilarating journey in itself; one that I would undertake over and over again in a heartbeat. I am so thrilled to finally be launching (maybe the first?) Australian-Muslim rom-com series out into the world that was created by the most badass-crew on the planet.”
“#Matched2” begins screening on TikTok on Wednesday, June 28.
@matchedtheseries The wait is finally over! #MATCHED2 releasing in ten days, exclusively on TikTok! Stay tuned. 😎🍿#muslimtiktok #halallove #marriage #nikah #habeshatiktok #desitiktok #fypシ #melbourne #love #halalfun #aus
