Hulu’s new Shōgun-style series (but with a lot more ramen) casts Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Here’s one for anyone who likes their prestige telly with a dash of culinary fish-out-of-water drama: Joseph Gordon-Levitt is heading to Hulu for a new series called Gaijin, and it’s set up to be a sort of modern-day answer to Shōgun, but with a lot more ramen. Yes, really.

The show comes courtesy of Shannon Goss, who was a co-executive producer on Shōgun, and it’s being made for Hulu by Lionsgate Television. Basically, it’s fresh territory but with some familiar behind-the-scenes names.

Gaijin draws on Ivan Orkin’s actual story—an American chef who famously cracked Japan’s ramen scene and then built his noodle empire in both the U.S. and London.

The Plot: Ramen, Grief, and Cultural Crossings

So, what’s the pitch? Gaijin follows Gordon-Levitt as Ivan, an American who’s not exactly acing life: he’s a dropout from culinary school who, after losing his wife, uproots himself and his son to Tokyo. Part of it’s grief, part of it’s a need to connect with his late wife’s homeland, and, of course, there’s the not-so-small ambition of starting his own ramen joint—even if the entire world seems determined to remind him he’s the outsider.

The storyline leans into Ivan’s attempts to bond with his Japanese in-laws, which I suspect will be less sushi and tea ceremonies, more awkward dinners and cultural gaffes. More fundamentally, it’s about how he tries to get his ramen business off the ground, all while negotiating being the gaijin (outsider) in every possible sense.

Based on Ivan Orkin’s Real Life

If the name Ivan Orkin rings a bell, that’s probably because he’s become a cult favourite among foodies. Orkin’s real claim to fame? As an American, he had the sheer tenacity—or madness—to open not one but two ramen shops in Tokyo before expanding his Ivan Ramen brand to New York and London. Later on, he turned up in Season 3 of Netflix’s Chef’s Table, so he’s already had his share of screen time.

• The series focuses on Ivan’s move to Japan with his son after his wife’s death.
• Much of the drama revolves around family ties and breaking into Japan’s intensely traditional ramen scene.
• The true story behind the show involves Orkin’s transition from outsider chef to Tokyo noodle master, then global ramen personality.

Cast, Crew, and What’s Next

In terms of production, Gordon-Levitt isn’t just starring—he’s also on the squad of executive producers, joined by Orkin himself, plus Jared Geller, Mark Fasano, Matthew Goldberg, Mike Blutstein, and Andrew Gottlieb. As for when you’ll actually be able to watch this thing, Hulu hasn’t put a date on it yet, so it’s all very TBC.

Hulu has not announced any release window for Gaijin at this stage.

While you wait for more from Gaijin, Gordon-Levitt’s dance card is looking busy. He popped up in Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man and is next set for Pendulum, a horror flick coming in 2027, directed by Mark Heyman (yes, the bloke who wrote Black Swan). That one will see him acting alongside Norman Reedus and Phoebe Dynevor, so don’t expect him to be twiddling his thumbs in between bowls of ramen.