Before High Council, There Was KUDRAT, Here's Everything You Need To Know About The Upcoming Prequel

The High Council universe is officially going back to where it all began. After months of speculation, Astro Shaw has unveiled the lead cast of KUDRAT 1968: High Council, a prequel that promises to explore the roots of power, privilege, and class divides long before the events of the hit franchise.

Set in 1968, the upcoming project isn't just another continuation of the High Council story. Instead, it's taking viewers back to a Malaysia that was still finding its footing as a young nation, using that backdrop to examine how systems of influence and social hierarchy shape identities, choices, and conflicts.

New faces leading the prequel

Astro Shaw has confirmed that Zarif Ghazzi, Mierul Aiman, Akmal Asyraf, Dai Fuad, Evertts Gomes, and Chech Harith will be fronting KUDRAT 1968: High Council.

The cast announcement comes after weeks of fan theories and online discussions surrounding the prequel, particularly regarding how it would connect to the wider High Council universe.

Image Credit: Astro Shaw

Joining them is a star-studded supporting cast that includes Nabila Huda, Zamarul Hisham, Datuk Seri Eizlan Yusof, Aziz M. Osman, Aleza Shadan, Yasmin Hani, Rusdi Ramli, Muzayyin Mahyuddin, Johnny Gillett, Jebat Zulfar, Balkisyh Semundur Khan, Umar Shakur, Nix Wong, Mokhtar Mohsin, and Zarul Zaidee.

A story about more than just power

While KUDRAT 1968 is a fictional work, showrunner Zulaikha Zakaria says the story draws inspiration from Malaysia's historical and social landscape.

According to her, the year 1968 was chosen deliberately as it reflects a period when the country was still shaping its identity amid significant social and political changes. Those circumstances become the foundation for the systems, culture, and legacy that exist within the world of KUDRAT.

Image Credit: Astro Shaw

At its core, the story explores the tension between inheritance and personal choice. It examines how social classes and power structures can influence a person's path in life, while raising questions about privilege, legacy, and the cost of challenging the status quo.

According to Astro Shaw Head Raja Jastina Raja Arshad, the prequel aims to expand the High Council phenomenon while introducing deeper themes that reflect real-life societal structures.

Behind the scenes, the project is led by Zulaikha Zakaria alongside co-director Khairi Asyraff, with Astro Shaw working together with co-production partners ZAK Capital, Enotech Pictures, Pegasus Motion Pictures, HM Entertainment, and GSC. Production is handled by PASAL Productions.

Image Credit: Astro Shaw

The creative team has also promised a larger visual scale compared to previous entries, while maintaining the emotional conflicts and character-driven storytelling that made High Council resonate with audiences in the first place.

Malaysia's first "One Story, Two Formats" release

One of the most interesting things about KUDRAT 1968: High Council is its unconventional release strategy.

For the first time in Malaysia, audiences will experience what Astro Shaw calls "One Story, Two Formats." The project was developed and filmed simultaneously as both a premium series and a feature film, with the two formats designed to tell one continuous story.

Image Credit: Astro Shaw

The journey begins with a four-episode Astro Originals series before continuing on the big screen later this year.

Rather than treating the series and film as separate projects, the television component will serve as a gateway into the larger narrative, helping audiences become immersed in the world before the story reaches cinemas.

A fashion collaboration inspired by the series

The KUDRAT 1968 experience will extend beyond screens through a collaboration with Malaysian fashion label Christy Ng.

The partnership will introduce an exclusive Christy Ng x KUDRAT 1968 collection featuring limited-edition bags and socks inspired by the series, allowing fans to engage with the world of KUDRAT in a more lifestyle-focused way.

Image Credit: Astro Shaw

The project's official theme song, "Manifestasi", performed by Sharul Kamal, will also accompany the release.

When can you watch it?

KUDRAT 1968: High Council premieres on 11 September 2026, airing every Friday at 9 PM on Astro Ria (Channel 104) and Astro Citra (Channel 108).

Episodes will also be available via Sooka and Astro X3 from midnight on the same day.

With a fresh cast, a story rooted in Malaysia's social realities, and an ambitious dual-format release strategy, KUDRAT 1968: High Council looks set to offer fans a deeper look into the origins of one of Malaysia's most talked-about fictional worlds.

Featured Image Credit: Astro Shaw