Apple TV Plus has ordered it first Korean-language series, sci-fi thriller Dr. Brain, an adaptation of a popular webtoon that will be written and directed by leading filmmaker Kim Jee-woon.
Starring Lee Sun-Kyun (Parasite), the series is now in production in Korea for release later this year. Korea-based Bound Entertainment is producing, along with Kakao Entertainment, Studioplex and Dark Circle Pictures.
The story follows a brain scientist who is obsessive about figuring out new technologies to access the consciousness and memories of the brain. His life goes sideways when his family falls victim to a mysterious accident, and he uses his skills to access memories from his wife’s brain to piece together the mystery of what actually happened to his family and why.
Kim is executive producing alongside Samuel Yeunju Ha, who exec produced Kim’s Illang: The Wolf Brigade and Bong Joon-Ho’s Okja. Ham Jung Yeub and Daniel Han are executive producing for Studioplex, and Joy Jinsoo Lee and Min Young Hong serve as executive producers for Kakao Entertainment.
Kim’s credits also include critically-acclaimed hit films such as A Bittersweet Life (2005), The Good, The Bad, The Weird (2008) and The Age Of Shadows (2016).
Launched on November 1, 2019, Apple TV Plus is developing a slate of originals that includes Asian-themed projects such as Pachinko, a Korean, Japanese and English-language drama series based on the acclaimed novel, and written and executive produced by Soo Hugh; and Shantaram, based on the India-set novel by Gregory David Robert and starring Charlie Hunnam.