Ronny Sianturi
Eric Schrier, president of Disney Television Studios, revealed his initial hesitation regarding the ambitious project to remake the critically acclaimed FX series The Americans as The Koreans. This high-budget, local-language adaptation, starring acclaimed actors Lee Byung-hun and Han Ji-min, will transport the espionage drama to the complex geopolitical landscape of 1990s South Korea, featuring the protagonists as North Korean spies posing as a married couple. Schrier, who was instrumental in developing the original Americans during his tenure as president of FX Entertainment, expressed a deep personal connection to the series and its creators, Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields.
"I was the guy who developed The Americans," Schrier stated. "I’m still very close with Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, the originals’ creators, so I wasn’t so sure about this idea, because it’s all very near and dear to my heart." This sentiment underscores the delicate balance Disney sought to strike: honoring the legacy of a beloved, award-winning series while forging a new narrative deeply rooted in a distinct cultural and historical context.
Genesis of a Transnational Adaptation
The concept for The Koreans emerged organically from Disney’s established content relationships within South Korea, rather than being a top-down directive to leverage existing intellectual property. This approach underscores Disney’s strategic pivot towards fostering local talent and storytelling in key international markets, with The Koreans poised to become the company’s inaugural local-language adaptation of a successful scripted series. The project has been allocated one of the most substantial budgets for Disney+ originals in the Asia-Pacific region to date, signaling a significant investment in its potential.
Schrier’s initial reservations began to dissipate as he recognized the unique storytelling potential inherent in transplanting the core premise of The Americans – deep-cover operatives embedded in a foreign land – to the Korean peninsula. "The similarities of the two premises – North Koreans embedded in the South, instead of Russians spying in 1980s America – started to make sense to me," Schrier explained. "But it was really the passion of our Korean team that got me excited. And I could see that, because Korea is still divided, this could be a very culturally relevant story for the local audience, which is always the primary priority for our local original content." This realization highlighted the potent thematic resonance of the spy thriller genre when applied to the persistent division of the Korean nation, a theme that has captivated audiences and shaped the region’s socio-political landscape for decades.
The Americans: A Legacy of Critical Acclaim
The Americans, created by former CIA officer Joe Weisberg and showrun by Weisberg and Joel Fields, captivated audiences for six seasons from 2013 to 2018. Starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys as Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, the series meticulously chronicled the lives of two deep-cover KGB officers posing as an ordinary American couple in suburban Washington D.C. during the tense atmosphere of the Reagan-era Cold War. The show masterfully wove intricate espionage tradecraft with a profoundly layered marital drama, exploring the protagonists’ evolving moral ambiguities regarding their mission and their deepening, often complicated, relationship with each other. As their American-born children grew, the Jennings grappled with the escalating risks of exposure and the profound ethical questions raised by their dual lives.
The series garnered widespread critical acclaim, earning 18 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and securing four wins. It has consistently appeared on critics’ lists of the finest television series of the "platinum TV era," a testament to its sophisticated writing, compelling performances, and nuanced exploration of identity, loyalty, and the human cost of ideological conflict.
The Koreans: A New Stage for Espionage and Identity
Set against the backdrop of South Korea’s transformative period of democratization and rapid cultural modernization in the early 1990s, The Koreans will delve into the lives of a seemingly ordinary middle-class family harboring a treasonous secret. While projecting an image of normalcy to their friends, neighbors, and even their children, the parents, portrayed by the celebrated Lee Byung-hun and Han Ji-min, are, in reality, elite North Korean operatives tasked with destabilizing South Korea from within. The series promises to illuminate the stark contrasts and lingering resentments between the two Koreas, depicting the spies as they navigate the treacherous terrain of conflicting loyalties – to their country, their ideology, their burgeoning love for each other, and their own sense of self. Adding to the dramatic tension, a formidable Korean counterintelligence agent will relentlessly pursue their identities, creating a constant sense of peril.
The writing and adaptation are spearheaded by Park Eun-kyo, known for her co-writing contributions to Bong Joon-ho’s acclaimed film Mother and the Disney+ series Made in Korea. Directing duties fall to Ahn Gil-ho, the visionary behind the immensely popular Netflix psychological thriller The Glory. In a departure from the typical American production model of writers’ rooms and rotating guest directors, The Koreans will be produced in the characteristic Korean style, with the same writer and director overseeing every episode. This approach is expected to foster a cohesive vision and maintain a consistent narrative and thematic throughline throughout the series.
Adding further star power to the ensemble, Korean actor Lee Hee-joon, known for his roles in 1987: When the Day Comes and Handsome Guys, has also been cast in an undisclosed leading role, further amplifying anticipation for the series’ cast.
Strategic Growth and Regional Resonance
Carol Choi, Disney’s Executive Vice President of Content Strategy and Marketing for the Asia-Pacific region, expressed significant optimism regarding The Koreans‘ potential to resonate not only within South Korea but also across broader Asian markets where Disney+ is actively seeking to expand its subscriber base. Choi highlighted two key factors contributing to this bullish outlook: the show’s rich exploration of family dynamics and the undeniable draw of Lee Byung-hun’s leading performance.
"There are a lot of geopolitical spy thriller-type stories in the market now, but what got us really excited are the couple and family dynamics, and the drama and humor involved in two spies living as husband and wife while trying to bridge the ideological divide of the two Koreas – all of which will feel very relevant for the Korean audience," Choi explained. This emphasis on relatable human drama within the high-stakes spy thriller framework is seen as a crucial element for engaging local audiences.
The inclusion of Lee Byung-hun was also cited as a major asset. "And obviously, Lee Byung-hun is a big win for us," she added. Lee, one of Korea’s most internationally recognized stars, possesses a distinguished filmography that includes his breakthrough role in Park Chan-wook’s Joint Security Area (2000), a seminal film that offered a sympathetic portrayal of North Korean characters. His global profile was further elevated by his captivating performance as the enigmatic villain in the Netflix phenomenon Squid Game, and more recently, his nuanced portrayal of a family man with dark secrets in the critically lauded tragicomedy No Other Choice.
Choi elaborated on Lee’s involvement: "He’s personally very interested in this role and we’re very excited about the interpretation he brings to it. It’s the type of role that will really allow him to show his stuff." This personal investment from the lead actor is expected to translate into a compelling and deeply realized performance.
A New Era for Disney’s International Content Strategy
Schrier indicated that The Koreans is a flagship project within Disney’s broader strategy to accelerate local-language content production across key Asia-Pacific markets, including South Korea, Japan, and Australia. This initiative, which predates Bob Iger’s departure from the top executive role and subsequent return, is designed to bolster Disney+’s competitive standing in these crucial territories.
"We’re only interested in general entertainment with these originals – adult content," Schrier clarified. "Our strategy is local for local, with shows that have strong appeal to these specific regions, with our unrivalled slates from Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, Disney, FX, Hulu and ABC as a complement." This dual approach of investing in locally relevant original content while leveraging its established global brands aims to create a comprehensive and compelling offering for a diverse international audience.
A Nod of Approval from the Original Creators
In a significant gesture of respect and collaboration, Schrier confirmed that he had personally briefed the original creators of The Americans, Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, as well as its lead actors Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell, about the plans for the Korean remake. All parties reportedly offered their enthusiastic blessings and support for the project.
"Joe and Joel were very curious, but chose not to be involved – for emotional reasons, I think," Schrier explained. "They declined to read the scripts, but they said they want to visit the sets." This decision reflects a desire to maintain a degree of emotional distance from the adaptation, allowing the Korean creative team to forge their own path, while still expressing genuine interest in its development. Schrier humorously speculated on their motivations for wanting to visit the set, suggesting, "They’re fun, curious guys – I suspect they just want to get to Korea for the first time to check out the culture and eat some Korean food." This lighthearted remark underscores the positive and collaborative spirit that has characterized the development of The Koreans, a project that promises to be a significant milestone in Disney’s global content strategy. The series’ success will likely be a key indicator of the viability and appeal of adapting beloved Western narratives into localized, culturally resonant productions for international markets.
