Disney+ Announces Korean Remake of The Americans Starring Lee Byung-hun and Han Ji-min

Disney’s head of international local originals, Eric Schrier, was initially unsure about the idea to remake the hit FX series “The Americans” as “The Koreans,” starring Lee Byung-hun and Han Ji-min. Schrier, who developed the original series, had reservations because of his close relationship with the creators of “The Americans.” However, he eventually saw the storytelling potential of the Korean remake and was won over. The show came about organically from Disney’s content relationships in Korea and will be the company’s first local-language adaptation of a scripted series. It is set to be a big-budget production with high expectations.

“The Koreans” will follow the story of a pair of North Korean spies posing as a married couple in 1990s South Korea, adding a unique twist to the original premise. The show is not a result of a corporate mandate to exploit IP but rather a creative decision based on the promising narrative possibilities. Lee Byung-hun and Han Ji-min will take on the lead roles in what is expected to be one of Disney’s most significant local-language productions to date.