Disney+ Announces Major Korean Adaptation of Acclaimed Spy Drama
In a significant move for international television, Disney+ has officially confirmed production on a Korean-language remake of the critically acclaimed FX spy drama The Americans. The new series, to be titled The Koreans, represents one of the streaming platform's most ambitious international original projects to date, with a planned release in 2027.
A Bold Reimagining of a Cold War Classic
The original series, created by Joe Weisberg, premiered in 2013 and ran for six successful seasons until 2018. It followed the gripping story of two deep-cover Soviet spies, Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, portrayed by Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell, who posed as an American married couple in suburban Washington, DC, during the tense Cold War era. The show masterfully blended espionage thrills with the complexities of a fabricated domestic life, earning widespread critical praise throughout its run.
The Americans received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama in 2019, alongside 18 Emmy Award nominations, with four wins. Its legacy as a sophisticated drama exploring themes of loyalty, identity, and patriotism has made it a prime candidate for adaptation.
New Setting and Star-Studded Cast
The Korean remake will dramatically relocate the story to Seoul in the 1990s, a period shortly after South Korea's transition to democratic governance following the June Democratic Uprising of 1987. Instead of Soviet agents in America, the central couple will be reimagined as North Korean spies embedded in South Korean society, adding a layer of cultural and political relevance to the Korean peninsula's unresolved tensions.
Leading the cast is Lee Byung Hun, renowned for his role in the global phenomenon Squid Game, who will portray Kim Myung Jun, an elite operative living undercover in the South for over a decade. Opposite him, Han Ji Min from Our Blue will star as Yoon Hak Kyung, an agent who becomes his wife as part of their cover. The series will also feature Lee Hee Joon as an anti-espionage detective investigating the couple, heightening the suspense and drama.
Plot Details and Creative Vision
The official plot synopsis reveals: "While seemingly ordinary citizens in the eyes of their friends, neighbours, and even their children, both parents are actually elite North Korean spies working to bring down the South from within. Highlighting the stark difference between these two formerly united countries, the series will follow the spies as they wrestle with conflicting feelings of patriotism, loyalty, identity, and love, while a ruthless Korean counterintelligence agent draws ever closer to discovering their identities."
This adaptation marks a notable departure from the original's Cold War backdrop, replacing US-Soviet rivalry with the ongoing tensions between North and South Korea, which remain technically at war since the 1953 armistice was never followed by a formal peace treaty. The border remains heavily militarised, with relations defined by periodic diplomatic stand-offs, making the story particularly resonant for local audiences.
Production Team and Support
The series will be directed by Ahn Gil Ho and written by Park Eun-kyo, following a Korean production model where the same writer and director oversee the entire series, rather than the writers' room and rotating director system typical of US television. This approach aims to maintain a cohesive creative vision throughout the project.
Eric Schrier, Disney's head of international local originals, expressed enthusiasm for the adaptation, noting the passion of the Korean team and the cultural relevance of the story. "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 told The Hollywood Reporter. "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."
Schrier also confirmed that original stars Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell, along with creators Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, have given their support to the remake. While Weisberg and Fields chose not to be involved in the creative process for emotional reasons, they have expressed curiosity and a desire to visit the sets in Korea, highlighting the collaborative spirit behind this cross-cultural project.
Anticipated Impact and Release
With its star-studded cast, timely setting, and proven source material, The Koreans is poised to become a major hit in the K-drama landscape. By adapting a beloved spy thriller to reflect the unique geopolitical dynamics of the Korean peninsula, Disney+ aims to captivate both local and global audiences. The series is scheduled for release in 2027, and anticipation is already building for what could be one of the standout international originals of the decade.
