Can Yaman Opens Up About Sandokan: Playing This Role Made Me a Better Actor

While attending the Italian Global Series Festival in Rimini, Can Yaman stole the spotlight by making his relationship with DJ Sara Bluma official. But that wasn’t the only reason he turned heads. The Turkish actor also presented Sandokan, the upcoming TV series in which he plays the legendary Tiger of Malaysia — a role he's absolutely thrilled about.

Filming for Sandokan wrapped up after four months, and the cast of this international series — produced by Lux Vide in collaboration with Rai Fiction — is eagerly awaiting the audience’s reaction to the first season. Talks are already underway for a second season in 2026, and at the festival in Rimini, Yaman confirmed he’ll return as Emilio Salgari’s iconic character for a third season as well. Clearly, this is a large-scale project, and that’s reflected in its international cast, which includes Alessandro Preziosi, Ed Westwick, Alanah Bloor, and John Hannah

The Turkish star also made headlines by confirming his relationship with Sara Bluma, a well-known DJ from Caserta with a strong following across Europe. The two made their red carpet debut hand-in-hand, both dressed in perfectly coordinated Dolce & Gabbana looks. However, not all fans reacted well to the news of Can’s new romance. Many expressed jealousy and disapproval, unhappy with his choice. Despite the backlash, Yaman remained unfazed. He addressed the criticism by posting pictures of the couple on Instagram, making it clear he doesn't care about the negativity and that Sara means a lot to him. He then turned his full attention to presenting Sandokan during the event.

Can Yaman on His Role in Sandokan

After his grand entrance on the red carpet with his now-official girlfriend Sara Bluma, Can Yaman spoke in depth about Sandokan, whose official teaser trailer has just been released. He shared that he moved to Italy four years ago specifically for this role — a production that was later put on hold due to the pandemic.

“There were some dark times for me because I feared it might never happen. I was the happiest man in the world when filming finally began,” Yaman said.

He went on to discuss the new vision for Sandokan, which will soon air on Rai 1. The series takes viewers on an emotional journey, diving into the past of the Tiger of Malaysia and following his evolution into a people's hero. According to Yaman, the emotional intensity he brought to the role was so immense that it felt like shooting four films back-to-back.