Taiwanese Drama ‘Islanders’ Sets International Prime Video Bow

Taiwanese drama series “Islanders” is gearing up for a simultaneous global launch across multiple platforms.

The series will stream on Catchplay+ in Taiwan, Singapore and Indonesia, as well as Line TV in Taiwan and Now TV in Hong Kong. For international audiences, Prime Video will carry the show across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide, excluding Taiwan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Macau. The series will also air Sundays on the Catchplay Movie Channel.

“Islanders” follows the unraveling of a powerful businessman whose relationships with his wife, longtime mistress and much younger partner come under public scrutiny. When a heated dinner table argument goes viral, his downfall and unexpected resurgence place him at the center of nationwide controversy, while his once-loyal assistant begins questioning his beliefs and searching for new meaning.

Set in early 2010s Taipei during the rise of social media, the series examines generational rifts, shifting identities and the emotional toll of public opinion in Taiwan’s rapidly evolving society.

The production boasts a cross-regional ensemble cast led by Christopher Lee, a well-known name in Singapore and Malaysia, alongside Wu Kang-Jen, a Golden Horse and Golden Bell Award-winning actor. The cast also features Rima Zeidan, recipient of both Taipei Film Awards and Golden Horse Awards, veteran actor Yu Tzu-Yu, and Japanese actor Yusuke Fukuchi.

The series is co-directed by Singaporean filmmaker Ler Jiyuan, known for “Invisible Stories” on HBO Asia, and acclaimed Taiwanese theater director Tsai Pao-Chang. Principal photography took place across Taiwan and the U.S., including locations in New York and Alaska.

Produced by Screenworks Asia, the production arm of Catchplay, in collaboration with Jollify Creative, “Islanders” is adapted from the award-winning novel “Islands” by Lolita (Ching-Fang) Hu, an author celebrated for her explorations of contemporary social issues.

“Islanders” represents the second Taiwanese series following “The World Between Us: After the Flames” to secure a global Prime Video release.

Screenworks Asia was founded in 2020 as the production subsidiary of Taiwan-based streaming platform Catchplay+ in a joint venture with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), with a mandate to accelerate production of premium content across different genres.