Move over Reacher — there’s a new action star in town.
Prime Video has quietly built a reputation as a go-to streaming destination for grounded, hard-hitting action dramas, thanks in large part to the success of its Lee Child adaptation Reacher. Now, the streamer is preparing to double down with the upcoming Butterfly, a pulse-pounding spy thriller led by Lost and Hawaii Five-O star Daniel Dae Kim. And if the first trailer (below) is anything to go by, Prime may have just found its next breakout action franchise.
What it’s about: Butterfly is a thriller that mixes spy action with a story about family and the ghosts of the past that return to cause trouble in the present. Daniel Dae Kim stars as David Jung, an ex-U.S. intelligence operative trying to live a quiet life in South Korea. A decision he made years ago comes back to bite him in the you-know-what, putting him in the crosshairs of a ruthless young agent working for a mysterious spy organization.
The series will, among other things, explore themes like identity, redemption, and the personal toll of living a life in the shadows. Butterfly also looks poised to capture the same adrenaline-fueled vibe as other Prime Video dramas built around stoic heroes, including shows like Reacher and The Terminal List.
Release date: All six episodes of Butterfly drop on August 13, exclusively on Prime Video.
Who’s in it: Daniel Dae Kim not only headlines the series but also serves as executive producer, fulfilling what he calls a “longtime dream” to unite American and Korean creative voices. He’s joined by Reina Hardesty (The Secret Art of Human Flight), Piper Perabo (Yellowstone, Billions), and Louis Landau (Rivals). The recurring cast includes South Korean stars Park Hae-soo (Squid Game), Kim Ji-hoon, and Kim Tae-hee, plus Charles Parnell, Sean Dulake, and Nayoon Kim. Guest appearances include Sung Dong-il and Lee Il-hwa.
The show was developed by Ken Woodruff (The Mentalist, Gotham) and novelist Steph Cha, based on the graphic novel by Arash Amel for BOOM! Studios.
Check out the first trailer for Prime Video’s Butterfly below.
