Khaberni - The official poster for the series "The Shepherd's Sons", scheduled to be broadcast in the upcoming Ramadan season of 2026, ignited a wide wave of controversy on social media after many followers noticed a notable resemblance with the poster of the famous Turkish series Esref Rüya "Ashraf's Dream", sparking questions about the limits of borrowing and visual influence in Arab drama.
The resemblance quickly became fodder for mockery and direct comparisons across digital platforms, with some considering the Egyptian poster to lack innovation and recycle an overused visual formula, particularly in a Ramadan season that witnesses fierce competition in terms of image and artistic identity.
In this context, a number of followers commented on the similarity between the two posters, with one saying: "This is the first time I see a series steal a poster idea from another series in less than a year"; another reposted the two posters and wrote sarcastically: "Ashraf's Dream they imitate The Shepherd's Sons!"
The producer denies borrowing
In his first response to the ongoing controversy, the show's producer Shadi Maqar stated that the similarity was unintentional and represented a "convergence of ideas", denying any deliberate copying from the Turkish series.
Maqar added, in statements to local media, that the nature of the series' events dictated the poster's design, and that the work is "completely different" from the Turkish series in terms of storyline and dramatic details.
Story and stars of the show
The series "The Shepherd's Sons" is set to air on the "dmc" channel and the "Watch It" platform during the Ramadan season.
The series revolves around the "Al-Ra'ai" family, an influential family that has succeeded in building a huge economic empire. However, this success hides behind it fierce conflicts within the family itself, along with confrontations with competitors and external enemies.
The series is written and produced by Raymond Maqar, directed by Mahmoud Kamel, and features a cast of stars, the most prominent of whom are Khaled El Sawy, Majed El Masry, Ahmed Eid, Nermin El Feki, Amal Boushousha, Ehab Fahmi, Enas Kamel, Fadia Abdel Ghany, and Sameh El Saeed, along with several guest stars.
"Ashraf's Dream"... a romantic story with a security twist
Conversely, the series "Ashraf's Dream", released last year "2025", belongs to the romantic drama genre with a police aspect, revolving around the wealthy and impulsive businessman "Ashraf", who falls in love with "Roya", unaware that she secretly works for the police against him.
The show stars Çağatay Ulusoy and Demet Özdemir, and features other stars from Turkish drama, directed by Uluç Bayraktar and written by Ethem Özışık.
