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From Prison to Comedy: The Shocking Real-Life Inspiration Behind Netflix’s ‘Bad Boy’

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Israel’s TV and film industry has gained international recognition, with more projects now finding a home on major streaming platforms and receiving well-deserved acclaim. On May 2nd, Netflix added another compelling production to its collection. The eight-episode Israeli drama titled “Bad Boy” is now available on Netflix following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival at the end of 2023. Renowned for creating the hit drama “Euphoria,” which was remade for HBO with Zendaya, Ron Leshem serves as co-creator and co-writer of “Bad Boy.” He has collaborated with filmmaker Hagar Ben Asher to bring this captivating tale to life.

The focus of this compelling new Netflix series is Dean Sheyman, a troubled 13-year-old who finds himself entangled in the criminal justice system. In the show titled “Bad Boy“, we follow Dean’s journey as he struggles to make sense of life both within and beyond prison walls. The narrative leaps between his tumultuous past and present, with Dean eventually achieving success as a comedian, but forever grappling with the challenges of his troubled past and transformative experiences behind bars.

Guy Manster and Daniel Chen portray the younger and older versions of the main character respectively, yet it’s Chen who plays an especially important role off-camera. This is because Chen’s real-life struggles inspired the TV drama. Let’s delve deeper into the gripping true story that underpins Netflix’s Israeli production “Bad Boy“.

The True Story Behind Netflix’s ‘Bad Boy’

In the gripping TV series Bad Boy, what makes it truly unique is that it’s based on real events, adding an extra layer of authenticity. Interestingly, the actor playing the protagonist, Daniel Chen, who happens to be a comedian in real life, embodies his own character in this captivating drama. The series primarily delves into Chen’s tumultuous childhood and his experiences behind bars, where he faced severe violence and learned to trust barely anyone. The heartwarming Netflix production not only highlights how Dean used humor as a coping mechanism during his darkest times, but also offers insights into his current life.

Following his release from prison, Dean Sheyman transformed into Daniel Chen and ascended through the ranks to become a well-regarded and prosperous stand-up comedian. Despite Chen’s desire to disclose his past at some juncture, it was Ron Leshem who reached out to him and proposed the idea. The two had crossed paths in the past, as Leshem visited for an experiment within a juvenile correctional facility where he initially encountered Dean/Daniel. For Chen, collaborating with Leshem on this television series and revealing his past for the first time represented a chance to be truthful and possibly elevate his career further.

In an interview on “Good Evening with Guy Pines”, Daniel Chen spoke candidly about his challenging upbringing and the factors contributing to his turbulent adolescence. He disclosed that his father was absent from his life, leaving him without a supportive male figure, while his mother, though present, wasn’t always able to provide the emotional support he needed. Additionally, Chen shared that as a teenager, he grappled with hyperactivity and didn’t have the resources or guidance to manage it effectively. Instead of receiving assistance, understanding, or appropriate boundaries, his condition worsened significantly. Eventually, this led him through a series of strict institutions until ultimately landing in prison.

The story, which is based in a juvenile detention facility, suggests that Chen had multiple stints in prison, not just one instance. In an interview with Guy Pines, the co-creator of “Bad Boys,” it was mentioned that shortly after being released for the first time, Chen got into an argument and, struggling to manage his anger, ended up injuring someone with a knife just a few days later.

‘Bad Boy’s Perfect Timing to Stream on Netflix

Netflix timed the release of “Bad Boy” quite well, following closely on the heels of the phenomenal success of their hit show, “Adolescence”. A quick glance at their cover art reveals striking similarities between them. Despite sharing a similar portrayal of Dean and Jamie’s arrest, complete with shock, confusion, blame, and a lack of acceptance, these two series are distinctly different.

Whereas Netflix’s groundbreaking crime drama “Adolescence” delves into misogyny within a socially media-driven generation through the lens of a teen murderer, the Israeli drama series primarily focuses on the absence of empathy in humanity.

The show “Bad Boy” portrays a lack of self-empathy and disregard for fellow criminals, as they frequently overlook challenging pasts, ongoing hardships, and the desire to transform. The makers of this gripping drama series aimed to promote empathy and its significance in our lives, a concept that is often neglected in today’s world. Essentially, productions like “Bad Boy serve as a poignant reminder of what it truly means to be human.

After keeping quiet about his difficult past for so long, Chen has now decided to share his story honestly. This openness allows him to articulate himself more deeply and perhaps impart wisdom to others. The comedian’s personal tale resonated with many, making it no wonder that the remake of Bad Boy is set for an American release. You can currently stream Bad Boy on Netflix.

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2025-05-09 06:08

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