What would you say to your twenty-year-ago self? And what if those words came back, changing everything? Letters from the Past is the new Turkish series that explores how even the deepest dreams and secrets can shape the present. In the story, a group of friends finds themselves confronting letters that were meant to be opened only after twenty years.
However, no one expected that instead of nostalgia, a painful truth would await them — a truth ready to turn their current lives upside down. It’s a story about memories, regrets, and second chances. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about the show, from plot and cast to release date. The trailer is included at the bottom of the article.
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Letters from the Past – all the key details
- Original title: Geleceğe Mektuplar
- Genre: Drama
- Country of production: Turkey
- Original language: Turkish
- Year of production: 2025
- Episodes: 1 season, 8 episodes
- Director: Cenk Ertürk
- Screenplay: Rana Denizer
- Cast: Gökçe Bahadır, Onur Tuna, İpek Türktan and others
- Production: O3 Medya for Netflix
What Letters from the Past is about
In 2003, teacher Fatma Ayar asks her students to write letters to themselves, to be opened in 2023. These messages, full of hopes, dreams, and fears, accidentally end up in the hands of her daughter Elif, who uncovers the profound stories behind those words. Reading the letters, the protagonists face unexpected emotions, secrets, and the consequences of past choices. In the background, Elif brings a new perspective: what she discovers triggers a family drama and changes her life.
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The cast
Twenty years after a deep bond first formed in their youth, the protagonists find themselves changed, forced to confront the consequences of words once written in innocence. Their reunion sparks a chain of emotions and twists that test relationships either broken or strengthened over time. The adult leads — the original authors of those letters — are portrayed by Gökçe Bahadır and Onur Tuna, two of the most beloved faces in Turkish television. İpek Türktan plays Fatma, the teacher who initiated the letter-writing project, while Güneş Nezihe Şensoy takes on the role of Elif, Fatma’s daughter, who uncovers long-buried family secrets. The ensemble cast also includes Selin Yeninci, Erdem Şenocak, Saygın Soysal, Can Bartu Aslan, Kerem Alp Kabul, Deniz Bakacak, Nilüfer Bayraktutan, Banu Fotocan, Pelin Karahan, Yusuf Akgün, Berk Özgür, Erdem Şensoy, Çağıl Aydıner, and features Feridun Düzağaç in a special appearance.
The inspiration for the show
The show is inspired by one of the Turkish Postal Services from twenty years ago, as recalled by the Turkish portal Episode, where people wrote letters to their future selves. Rana Denizer turned that idea into a series with a strong nostalgic flavor, exploring the theme of personal transformation in a modern key. So, although it’s not a true story, it all feels plausible, at least in premise.
An emotional journey through time
Letters from the Past is an emotional journey through time, a story weaving drama and deep feelings. Each letter holds genuine emotions: dreams changed, fulfilled, or maybe just illusions. Director Cenk Ertürk and screenwriter Rana Denizer portray classic Turkish values – loyalty, love, family – in a universal way that can touch a global audience. A strong point is the diverse cast, with established stars and young talents bringing to life characters from different generations.
What sets it apart from other Turkish shows?
Unlike many Turkish dramas—often focused on love stories or family dramas—here we find a collective narrative that unites generations and perspectives through the letters. The storytelling is enriched by significant flashbacks, revealing what happened from 2003 to today: an emotional journey between who we were and who we have become. The effect is a gradually building emotional tension. It is the first Turkish Netflix Originals production with this emotional dynamic.
Release date on Netflix
The series is available on Netflix worldwide starting July 23, 2025. Be ready ► Watch on Netflix
