Expats (TV series)

Expats[2] is an upcoming American drama streaming television series created by Lulu Wang based on the 2016 novel The Expatriates by Janice Y. K. Lee that is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video in January 26, 2024.[3][4]

Expats
GenreDrama
Created byLulu Wang
Based onThe Expatriates
by Janice Y. K. Lee
Directed byLulu Wang
Starring
ComposerAlex Weston[1]
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
  • Nicole Kidman
  • Per Saari
  • Theresa Park
  • Alice Bell
  • Melanie Marnich
  • Lulu Wang
Production companies
Release
Original networkAmazon Prime Video

Premise

Expats follows "the vibrant lives of a close-knit expatriate community: where affluence is celebrated, friendships are intense but knowingly temporary, and personal lives, deaths and marriages are played out publicly—then retold with glee."[5]

Cast

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten by [3]Original air date
1TBALulu WangLulu WangJanuary 26, 2024 (2024-01-26)[6]
2TBALulu WangTBD2024 (2024)
3TBALulu WangVera Maio2024 (2024)
4TBALulu WangGursimran Sandhu2024 (2024)
5TBALulu WangLulu Wang2024 (2024)
6TBALulu WangJanice Y. K. Lee2024 (2024)

Production

Development

On February 7, 2017, it was reported that Blossom Films had optioned the screen rights to Janice Y.K. Lee's novel The Expatriates with the intention of developing it into a television series. Alice Bell was attached to write the adaptation. Executive producers were expected to consist of Nicole Kidman, Per Saari, and Theresa Park with Lee set to serve as a consulting producer. Alongside Blossom Films, production companies involved with the production were slated to include POW! Productions.[7] On July 28, 2018, it was announced that Amazon had given the production a series order.[5] On January 11, 2019, it was announced that Melanie Marnich had joined Bell as co-showrunner and executive producer for the series.[8] In December 2019, it was announced Lulu Wang would serve as an executive producer on the series, while also writing and directing multiple episodes.[9]

Casting

Alongside the initial development announcement, it was reported that Nicole Kidman would star in the series.[7] In May 2021, Ji-young Yoo was cast in the series.[10] In June 2021, Jack Huston and Sarayu Blue joined the cast.[2][11] In September 2021, Brian Tee joined the cast.[12]

Controversies

Amazon Prime's decision to produce two series in Hong Kong about expatriates – the other one being Exciting Times – was criticised as being insensitive towards the city which was suffering from a rapidly deteriorating political situation under the Hong Kong national security law imposed by the government of the People's Republic of China.[13] Hong Kong's newspaper of record, the South China Morning Post, referred to the series as “tone deaf” and out of touch, because author Janice Y. K. Lee is the daughter of Korean immigrants who left Hong Kong for the US with her family when she was 15.[14]

Leading actor Nicole Kidman's exemption from the city's mandatory 21-day in-hotel quarantine regime was also criticised as she arrived by private jet with bodyguards on August 12, 2021,[13][15] while the Hong Kong authorities responded that the quarantine exemption was granted "for the purpose of performing designated professional work, taking into account that it is conducive to maintaining the necessary operation and development of Hong Kong’s economy".[16] Residents objected to what they considered grossly unfair treatment, and internet users also reacted negatively.[17] Prominent activist David Webb reacted with an ironic tweet;[13] several lawmakers expressed concern over the exemption inside the legislature.[18][19] Responding to the controversy, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau denied that the exemption violated existing policies, and said that the crew would have to be fully vaccinated and comply with quarantine exemption requirements identical to those made available to bankers.[18] While one person said that the series would bring good publicity and jobs to Hong Kong,[20] dissident artist Badiucao said that the communist-backed regime would use it "as a soft propaganda program that will sugarcoat the lies in Hong Kong".[21]

References
  1. "Alex Weston Scoring Lulu Wang's Amazon Series 'Expats'". Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  2. Andreeva, Nellie (June 17, 2021). "Jack Huston Joins 'Expats' Amazon Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  3. "Expats". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  4. lovingseries [@lovingseries] (October 3, 2023). "Prime Video anuncia fecha de estreno para #Expats, miniserie basada en la novela de Janice Y.K. Lee protagonizada por Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue y Ji-young Yoo" (Tweet). Retrieved October 3, 2023 – via Twitter.
  5. Andreeva, Nellie (July 28, 2018). "Amazon Studios Orders 'The Expatriates' Drama Series Based On Novel From Nicole Kidman's Blossom Films – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  6. lovingseries [@lovingseries] (October 3, 2023). "Prime Video anuncia fecha de estreno para #Expats, miniserie basada en la novela de Janice Y.K. Lee protagonizada por Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue y Ji-young Yoo" (Tweet). Retrieved October 3, 2023 – via Twitter.
  7. Andreeva, Nellie (February 8, 2017). "Nicole Kidman To Produce & Possibly Star In 'The Expatriates' TV Series Adaptation". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  8. Andreeva, Nellie (January 11, 2019). "Writer Melanie Marnich Inks Overall Deal With Amazon Studios, Joins 'The Expatriates' As Executive Producer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  9. Jarvey, Natalie (December 12, 2019). "'The Farewell's' Lulu Wang Books Next Project: Amazon's Nicole Kidman Drama Series (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  10. Otterson, Joe (May 25, 2021). "Amazon Series Adaptation of 'The Expatriates' Casts Ji-young Yoo". Variety. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  11. Otterson, Joe (June 24, 2021). "'Expats' Amazon Series Casts Sarayu Blue (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  12. Andreeva, Nellie (September 9, 2021). "Brian Tee Stars Opposite Nicole Kidman In 'Expats' Amazon Drama Series". Deadline. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  13. Kwan, Rhoda (August 19, 2021). "Hong Kong exempts actor Nicole Kidman from Covid quarantine as Amazon's 'tone-deaf' expat TV shows see backlash". Hong Kong Free Press.
  14. Frater, Patrick; Davis, Rebecca (August 19, 2021). "Nicole Kidman and Amazon Series 'The Expats' Get Quarantine Exemption From Image-Conscious Hong Kong Regime". Variety. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  15. "Nicole Kidman allowed to skip Hong Kong's strict quarantine, reports say". The Straits Times. August 19, 2021.
  16. "Explained: Why Hong Kong govt exempted Nicole Kidman from COVID quarantine mandate for shooting in the city". Firstpost. August 19, 2021.
  17. Ives, Mike (August 20, 2021). "Nicole Kidman's Quarantine Pass Generates Anger in Hong Kong". The New York Times.
  18. Chau, Candice (August 20, 2021). "Video: Hong Kong politicians get in on the act as Nicole Kidman quarantine row spills over into legislature". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  19. "Kidman quarantine exemption sparks anger in HK". Asia Times. August 19, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  20. Cheng, Matthew; Lo, Janice (August 20, 2021). "Hong Kong quarantine exemption for Nicole Kidman draws flak". MSN. Associated Press. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  21. Nolan, Emma (August 20, 2021). "Nicole Kidman Hong Kong TV show being used by China as "soft propaganda"". Newsweek. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
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