Secret of the Sultan

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Secret of the Sultan (Turkish: Sultanın Sırrı) is a 2010 Turkish action film directed by Hakan Şahin. It was written and produced by Ömer Erbil and stars Şerif Sezer, Mark Dacascos, Zeynep Beşerler, Burak Sergen, Sinan Albayrak, and Emanuel Bettencourt.

Plot
An American professor travels to Istanbul to find a century-old chest built by Abdul Hamid II, which he believes is tied to modern oil power struggles. His quest leads him to the hidden underground cloisters of Topkapı Palace (now the Topkapı Museum), where he confronts a patriotic museum curator and Turkish intelligence. As the investigation unfolds, conspiracies stretching back to the Gulf Wars, the Iran–Iraq War, World War I, and the final years of the Ottoman Empire come to light.

Production
The film was shot on location in Istanbul, including Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, Yıldız Palace, and the Istanbul Archaeology Museums.

Release
Secret of the Sultan premiered at a gala screening at Istinye Park, Istanbul, on December 9, 2010, with star Mark Dacascos in attendance. It was released across Turkey on December 17, 2010. The production received support from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency. A reviewer for Hürriyet Daily News described the film as a blend of National Treasure and Dan Brown’s thrillers, including The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons.

Language and country
Turkey; Turkish language.