The compelling performance of Turkish rock veteran Aykan İlkan in Yemek The Movie has prompted director Ebru Cengiz Ergen to shape Plato—one of the central characters in the upcoming sequel—around him. Ergen is now preparing to offer İlkan both a lead role in Yemek The Movie – Ben Senim and the position of Music Director for the project.
As one of the most seasoned figures in Turkish rock music, Aykan İlkan is drawing critical attention for his cinematic debut after a multi-decade music career. Renowned for his technical mastery on drums, explosive stage presence, and signature musical style, İlkan brings a fictionalised version of himself to life in Yemek The Movie.
Having launched his musical journey in the 1980s, İlkan served as an early lineup member of the iconic band Kargo before joining legendary rock singer Şebnem Ferah’s studio and touring band in 1997. In recent years, he has also established himself as a songwriter and vocalist through solo releases such as “Kabusun Şehri” (City of Nightmares), “Bu Da Güzel” (This Too Is Beautiful), and “Sensin” (It Is You).
Real Names, Authentic Stories
Director Ebru Cengiz Ergen chose to have most cast members retain their real names in the film, which draws inspiration from authentic human experiences. Ergen notes that rather than inventing fictional names, her goal was to preserve a raw sense of reality between the performers and the narrative.
İlkan’s character in the film is also named “Aykan,” appearing across approximately 15 minutes of the 93-minute feature.
On screen, Aykan is portrayed as a man attempting to evade unidentified, dangerous pursuers. He channels his inner rage into intensive physical training, pushing his body to total exhaustion to quiet his mind. Who he is fleeing from—and why—remains an intriguing mystery left unanswered in the first film.
From the Boxing Ring to a Mystical Dinner Table
Aykan’s arc begins inside a boxing gym. As he attempts to regulate his anger through intense workouts, he is unexpectedly visited by Ellen (Olga Rohmir), a time traveler within the film’s universe. Initially confrontational and defensive toward her, Aykan abruptly loses consciousness when the mysterious young woman utters a single command: “Stop.”
Awakening inside an unfamiliar house, Aykan cautiously steps out of the room with clenched fists. Upon reaching the living room, he finds Ellen waiting for him at the head of a dining table with a haunting smile.
Ellen commands Aykan to sit and eat. Though he tries to resist, he finds himself mystically powerless against her direct orders. Speaking softly about the collective grief borne by humanity, Ellen approaches him and says, “Now it is your turn to share your pain, Aykan.” Placing her hand on his forehead, she whispers a single word:
“Plato.” As Aykan’s head collapses onto the dining table, the scene sets the stage for the next chapter in the unfolding saga.
“His Eyes Whispered That He Was Inside the Character”
Director Ebru Cengiz Ergen notes that İlkan’s improvisational facial expressions and piercing gaze were what impressed her most behind the lens.
“When I first evaluated Aykan from a director’s perspective, I recognized a distinct aura that recalled Tyler Durden. Beneath that volatile and dangerous outer layer was an experienced, tired, and fragile man. He was physically present in the room, yet mentally miles away from everyone else. His improvised expressions and subtlety on camera proved that this depth translated effortlessly to the screen.”
Following İlkan’s performance, Ergen began envisioning the character of Plato in the sequel specifically around him, observing that the musician’s innate sense of rhythm on stage translated seamlessly into silence, screen presence, and timing in front of the camera.
Plato in the Contemporary World
The upcoming sequel in the franchise is titled Yemek The Movie – Ben Senim (I Am You). While the historical figure Horace Walpole absorbed human grief from a parallel timeline in the first film, Plato will stand at the core of the new narrative.
However, Plato will not be confined to his ancient historical era. For the majority of the story, he will be presented as a contemporary figure living in today’s world.
The film will explore the inner void of modern individuals alienated from their true selves by technology, their erratic drift toward ungrounded spiritualism, and the harsh, primal pragmatism of those who reject it—all examined through the existential pain felt by Plato. In essence, the film serves as an ancient philosopher’s elegy for the modern world.
A Cinematic Vision for “Sensin”
After listening to Aykan İlkan’s solo track “Sensin”, Ergen identified a powerful cinematic link between the song and the character of Plato in the sequel.
In a key sequence envisioned by the director, Plato—living in the modern era—performs “Sensin”, drawing the crowd around him into a state of collective hypnosis. This crowd represents both those swept into chaotic spiritualism out of modern emptiness and those living without questioning their own superficiality.
Deeply moved by the track, Ergen decided she wanted to collaborate with İlkan not only as an actor, but also as the Music Director for the sequel, and is preparing to officially offer him both roles.
Release Details:
Yemek The Movie, a co-production of FabUK Production and 24 Kare, will host its premiere 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.
The feature is produced by Cem Kaplan, Ali Kaygısız, and Ebru Cengiz Ergen, with distribution partnered by Cüneyt Tüfekçioğlu’s Cinemy Academy.