Disney+ Is Remaking an Emmy-Winning FX Spy Thriller With a Squid Game Star Leading the Mission

Well, this one’s a bit unexpected — Disney+ is dipping its toes into spy drama waters with a full-on reimagining of FX’s critically adored ‘The Americans,’ but they’re giving it a very different flavor (and language). And yes: they’ve snagged a bona fide ‘Squid Game’ star for the trouble.

‘The Koreans’: Disney+ Goes Undercover

Here’s the gist: Disney+ has officially kicked off production on ‘The Koreans,’ which is basically ‘The Americans’ — but set in early-90s South Korea and substituting Cold War angst for the tension between North and South Korea. Think less Reagan, more K-pop’s infancy.

The story follows a seemingly average family in South Korea, but behind the matching sweaters and polite smiles, both parents are highly trained North Korean secret agents. Their job? Wreak havoc from within by blending in as your middle-class next-door neighbors. Their biggest challenge, beyond espionage and risking their necks, is making sure the family unit survives — even as a South Korean intelligence officer starts getting a little too close for comfort.

Main Cast & Creative Team

• Lee Byung-hun (from ‘Squid Game’ and ‘No Other Choice’): One half of the deep-cover couple.
• Han Jimin (known for ‘Heavenly Ever After,’ ‘Love Scout’): The other half of the marriage made in spycraft heaven.
• Ahn Gilho: Directing the whole thing.
• Park Eunkyo: Writing the script, adapting from Joe Weisberg’s original FX series.

Setting the Scene

Disney+ isn’t just changing the language; they’re moving the action to South Korea’s democratization period in the early ‘90s, when the country was modernizing at light speed and tumultuous political shifts were shaking up old alliances. That’s a fertile ground for double lives and ideological drama, to say the least.

High Bar for Comparison

The original ‘The Americans’ ran from 2013 to 2018 and picked up all sorts of hardware: 18 Emmy nominations and four wins, a Golden Globe for best drama, and a constant presence on ‘best of TV’ lists. In other words: this remake isn’t just chasing an established hit — it’s got some massive shoes to fill.

What About the Original Team?

There’s some behind-the-scenes curiosity here. Eric Schrier, who helped develop the original ‘Americans,’ admitted he had his doubts when Disney+ floated the idea. As he put it:

'I was the guy who developed The Americans. I was a little hesitant about the remake, honestly, given my connection to the original creators. But the similarities between the two premises — once we set it in Korea — started to fall into place.'

Apparently, the whole thing spun out of partnerships Disney’s been building in Korea, not just a random exec’s brainstorm. And for those wondering: the original show’s creators and stars have given their blessing.

The Takeaway

So, to sum up: Disney+ is rolling the dice on a fresh version of one of TV’s best espionage dramas, with A-list Korean talent and a twist that makes sense if you know your modern Asian history. Whether it ends up living up to its inspiration is anyone’s guess, but given the weird, ambitious premise and the cast involved, it’s worth keeping an eye on.