To Nisi

To Nisi (Greek: Το Νησί; English: The Island) is a Greek television series based on the best-selling English novel The Island by Victoria Hislop airing on Mega Channel. The series premiered on 11 October 2010 to record ratings and critical acclaim. It is one of the most expensive Greek television productions ever with a budget of €4 million.

Production

Conception

The series is one of the most expensive television shows in Greek television history with a budget of €4 million.The Island author Victoria Hislop had previously received offers from Hollywood as high as £300,000 for the movie rights to the novel, although she opted instead to grant the rights to Mega Channel for a fraction of the price in return for some artistic control.

Initial thoughts by Mega Channel were to make a film out of the novel, but they finally decided upon a 26 episode television series instead.Mirella Papaeconomou primarily took on the script's adaptation, and with Hislop's permission added stories and characters that do not exist in the novel to make the series long enough for a full season. Hislop actively participated in the entire process with ideas, suggestions, and observations. Thodoris Papadoulakis undertook the direction of the series.