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| (Image Source: Television Asia Plus/MakerVille) |
Fuji Television Network Inc. (Fuji TV), MakerVille, and SimStory have announced their most ambitious international project to date: the upcoming launch of the premium drama series kiDnap GAME, premiering on October 2026. Anchored by Japan’s Kentaro Sakaguchi as the lead alongside South Korean superstar Lee Joon-gi, this powerhouse collaboration between Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea has already evolved into a massive pan-Asian phenomenon.
kiDnap GAME represents a definitive synergy of cross-border financing and creative collaboration. Principal photography has been underway for over six months across multiple Asian hubs since production commenced in November 2025. While the core creative team is led by Fuji Television’s top Japanese showrunners, the production seamlessly utilizes localized crews and elite regional talent, with support from MakerVille and SimStory, in every featured city — including Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok, and Manila. This unprecedented international integration redefines the boundaries of global television. Conceived three years ago with the bold vision of creating a Japanese-led survival thriller built for a massive global impact, the project has rapidly secured broadcast and streaming distribution across 18 territories including Viu markets across Asia, Middle East and South Africa as a Viu Original with more to follow. Engineered to captivate an international audience, this high-stakes thriller is being crafted with cinematic tension to ensure the highest standards of production quality. The saga kicks off with a wave of simultaneous abductions paralyzing seven major Asian cities: Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok, Naha, and Manila. As sensational headlines grip the globe, the families of the victims receive a chilling email: “How far are you willing to go to save your loved one? Only one can be saved.” Each contestant in this twisted game is handed a unique set of directives. To rescue their loved ones, they must complete their missions before anyone else. Seven strangers — divided by nationality, background, and faith — are thrust together by fate. But why were they chosen? Who is the mastermind pulling the strings of this survival game? And what is their true endgame? The curtain rises on “kiDnap GAME” — a lethal, high-stakes battle for survival pushed to the absolute limit. kiDnap GAME is poised to showcase the world-class storytelling and filmmaking capabilities of the Asian entertainment industry to the entire world.
Fuji Television Network Inc. Head of Content Business Kentaro Shibuya said, “As Fuji Television continues its evolution into a full-scale content company, expanding our IP internationally remains a key strategic priority. As our flagship tentpole for this global expansion, kiDnap Game represents a significant milestone as our first-ever primetime terrestrial drama series developed through an international co-production framework. Together with MakerVille and SimStory, we are proud to bring a globally resonant story to life and look forward to delivering compelling entertainment from Asia to audiences around the world.” MakerVille CEO Kenneth Kam commented, “We are truly honored that MakerVille is collaborating with Fuji TV and SimStory to develop and produce the large-scale Asian drama series, kiDnap GAME. From the moment we first learned about the project, we were excited by the opportunity to be part of a production that genuinely spans multiple markets across Asia. It is also a rare privilege to film across different regions and bring together an exceptional cast from different markets. We look forward to bringing kiDnap GAME to audiences in different regions through our Viu OTT platform while continuing to work together to advance Asian drama production and showcase the strength of Asian storytelling to audiences around the world.” SimStory CEO Song Seon-Eui added, “kiDnap GAME is a unique project that seamlessly blends high-quality genre storytelling with global market potential. Together with Asia’s leading actors and our esteemed partners Fuji TV and MakerVille, we are confident that this groundbreaking series will captivate audiences worldwide and offer an exciting new viewing experience.”
