Taiwanese Drama ‘Islanders' Sets International Prime Video Bow
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.
More from Variety
Taiwan Makes Its Mark at Annecy With VR Innovation and Diverse Animation Slate
Taiwan Powers Into Berlinale With Four-Film Slate Led By LGBTQ+ Crime Drama
Taiwan-Singapore Agree Cooperation on First Day of Taiwan Creative Content Fest
'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.
'Islanders' premieres July 18.
Best of Variety
'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
37 minutes ago
- CNN
Michelin-starred chef opened a restaurant in an EV factory
Michelin-starred chef opened a restaurant in an EV factory Cory Lee, the chef behind San Francisco's three-Michelin-starred Benu, opened his latest restaurant, Na Oh, in an unusual location: the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore. 01:30 - Source: CNN Football player's emotional press conference sparks conversation University of Nebraska freshman punter, Archie Wilson, left his home in Australia to play for the Cornhuskers. During a press conference, a reporter asked Wilson how he was doing being so far away from his family and his emotional reaction sparked a conversation around masculinity. Writer and philosopher Ryan Holiday joined CNN's Boris Sanchez to discuss. 01:29 - Source: CNN McDonald's Japan causes Pokémon food waste frenzy Piles of untouched Happy Meals littered sidewalks outside McDonald's restaurants in Japan over the weekend, as frenzied customers scrambled to buy limited-edition sets with Pokémon cards. CNN International Correspondent Hanako Montgomery has the story. 00:55 - Source: CNN Taylor Swift unveils album details on boyfriend Travis Kelce's podcast Taylor Swift announced her 12th studio album 'The Life of a Showgirl' will be released on October 3rd. Swift made an appearance on the podcast 'New Heights,' hosted by her boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce where they discussed the album 00:48 - Source: CNN Taylor Swift jokes about male sports fans in new teaser video A new teaser for the highly anticipated podcast featuring Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce was just released. In the new clip, Swift jokes about male sports fans who have criticized her appearance on NFL broadcasts of Kansas City Chiefs games. 00:43 - Source: CNN Beyoncé wins her first Emmy Beyoncé won her first Emmy for the "Beyoncé Bowl" halftime show during a Christmas NFL game that aired on Netflix, which takes her halfway to an EGOT. 00:26 - Source: CNN A glacier outburst is underway in Alaska A wave of water gushing out of an Alaskan glacier is threatening significant, potentially record-breaking flooding in Juneau for the third consecutive August. 00:44 - Source: CNN Did Taylor Swift drop another Easter egg? Taylor Swift announced her newest album "The Life of a Showgirl" on Travis and Jason Kelce's podcast "New Heights." CNN's Lisa France reports that the announcement could reveal hints about the future of Travis and Taylor's relationship. 00:55 - Source: CNN Prince Harry and Meghan Markle extend Netflix deal Prince Harry and Meghan Markle extended their deal with Netflix to continue producing films and television shows for the streaming service. The couple's 2020 deal with Netflix was set to expire later this year. 00:39 - Source: CNN Lightning strike sparks fireball in South Carolina Dashcam video from the Mount Pleasant Police Department shows a lightning strike near an intersection in South Carolina. Hundreds lost power, and no injuries were reported, according to officials. 00:31 - Source: CNN Insect crawls on during European tour Singer, dancer and actress Jennifer Lopez was performing in Almaty, Kazakhstan when an uninvited guest joined her on stage. She casually dismissed the intruder, a long-legged insect, and thanked her fans. 00:28 - Source: CNN Meet the winner of 2025's World's Ugliest Dog Contest The World's Ugliest Dog Contest named Petunia, a hairless bulldog, the winner of this year's competition in California on Friday. The prize was $5,000 and a merchandise deal with Mug Root Beer. 00:30 - Source: CNN A relic of the 90s and early 2000s, AOL ending its dial-up internet service AOL, an internet pioneer that brought millions of Americans online for the first time, is discontinuing its dial-up service next month. AOL posted a statement saying it 'routinely evaluates its products and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Internet' on September 30, ending more than three decades of operations. 00:33 - Source: CNN Masked thieves steal $7,000 worth of Labubu dolls Masked thieves stole about $7,000 worth of Labubu dolls from a Los Angeles-area store on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department are investigating the incident. 00:44 - Source: CNN Intense storm rips roof off prison Hundreds of prisoners from the Nebraska State Penitentiary were displaced after a violent storm damaged two housing units on Saturday, according to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. No injuries were reported, the department said. 00:27 - Source: CNN Paris locals say tourism surge is 'an invasion' Paris is no stranger to tourists taking photos of its historic landmarks. Tourists taking photos of themselves in front of the landmarks for social media? Well, that's changed the game. As the French capital sees a surge in international tourism, CNN's Melissa Bell spoke with locals in Montmartre who told CNN they worry that the large crowds are leading to the 'Disney-fication' of their neighborhood. 01:27 - Source: CNN Meet the oldest panda living outside of China At 35 years old, Xin Xin is a legend as the oldest giant panda living outside of China. CNN's Valeria León visited Mexico City's Chapultepec Park Zoo – where Xin Xin lives – to see why thousands of people visit the panda each day. 01:14 - Source: CNN See what happens when a robot competes with courting fiddler crabs Researchers test fiddler crab mating strategies by introducing a robot with a waving claw, dubbed 'Wavy Dave.' CNN speaks to one of the scientists about the study and some surprising moments caught on camera. 01:50 - Source: CNN See statue unveiling for Tom Brady at Gillette Stadium The New England Patriots unveil a statue for seven-time Super Bowl champion and retired quarterback Tom Brady at Gillette Stadium. 00:32 - Source: CNN
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Taylor Lautner Reveals If He's Team Conrad or Jeremiah & 'Twilight' Is The Reason for His Answer
Taylor Lautner Reveals If He's Team Conrad or Jeremiah & 'Twilight' Is The Reason for His Answer originally appeared on Parade. Actor Taylor Lautner, who famously played one of Bella Swan's (Kristen Stewart) romantic interests, Jacob Black, in the Twilight film franchise, is sharing his thoughts about another famous love triangle. While speaking to People magazine in August 2025, Lautner shared that he and his wife, Taylor Dome, watch the Prime series, The Summer I Turned Pretty, which premiered in 2022. The series follows Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) who's had romances with two brothers, Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno), at different times. In the show's current third season, Belly is engaged to Jeremiah. However, she seems to still have feelings for Conrad, whom she dated for a few months about five years prior. Lautner referenced that fans of the series are divided into two camps, Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah, which is similar to how Twilight fans reacted to Bella's relationship with Jacob and her eventual husband, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). Lautner said he wants Belly to end up with Jeremiah because he thinks the character is similar to Jacob. 'My wife watches that show religiously. I would be lying if I said I didn't ... I've been watching this current season with her, so it's been a fun thing. I don't think she's super excited about watching the show with me like she is with her friends, but I get it. I get it," said Lautner to People magazine. 'I feel like because of my roots, I have to be Team Jer. But that's just because I feel like I have to. I feel like [Jeremiah] resonates a lot with Jacob. I know that'll irritate a lot, a lot of fans.' Lautner then shared he thinks his wife wants Conrad and Belly to end up together. 'I think my wife may be on the other team, and that makes sense because she was Team Edward as well,' said Lautner. During a July 2025 interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, alongside Casalegno and Briney, Tong discussed the fans' response to Belly's love life. She said fans will often tell her if they are on Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah. She also clarified that she is "Team Belly, always." "I'm all for her following her heart and what she needs to do in the moment," said Tong during the interview. Taylor Lautner Reveals If He's Team Conrad or Jeremiah & 'Twilight' Is The Reason for His Answer first appeared on Parade on Aug 16, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 16, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
‘Betty La Fea' S2: Ana María Orozco, Jorge Enrique Abello Talk What To Expect
Betty la Fea: La Historia Continúa — Prime Video's global smash series, the sequel based on the hit late 1990s Colombian telenovela — returns for its highly anticipated second season, upping the stakes for its leading protagonists. The story picks up with Betty (Ana María Orozco) facing difficult choices about herself, her family and the future of Ecomoda — where she has returned as president. She makes another life-changing decision regarding Armando (Jorge Enrique Abello), who she admits is the love of her life, and continues her efforts to reconnect and build a stronger relationship with her daughter Mila (Juanita Molina), who is herself recovering from a romantic disappointment and betrayal. For Orozco and Abello, the revival is both joyful and challenging, as they ensure the show remains true to the essence of the story that audiences remember and love. "We're very pleased to return with this story that needed new chapters for fans around the world," says Abello. A Record-Breaking Return The return resulted in a record-shattering first season, with the largest global viewership for a Latin American title in Prime Video history and the most‑watched series or movie of all time on Prime Video in Colombia. The success was driven by nostalgia, curiosity around what happened to the beloved characters, and most of the original actors reprising their roles, with on-set chemistry and camaraderie enriched by time. "Reuniting with Jorge and the entire cast is a joy," says Orozco. "They're all wonderful actors. We have a lot of fun working, and we bring out the best in each other. Everyone contributes so much and the magic truly happens on set." Both stars now serve as associate producers and describe their role as guiding the spirit of the show — making sure the show's direction stays aligned with Betty's true essence, while big decisions remain a broader team effort. Streaming Format, Timeless Appeal The sequel's streaming-first format gives the 21st century series momentum without straying far from its origins. Abello contrasts the original telenovela pacing with the new version's episode length. "We always did 30-minute episodes where nothing and a lot of things happened, because the arcs would take 20 or 30 episodes to unfold so there could be real transformations within the narrative…. Now we have the same time but with greater punch." Orozco agrees. "Everything is tighter, more to the point…there are things you won't see but are told another way." Strategic flashbacks help old audiences remember and new ones catch up with history that provides context to the current story. Female empowerment anchors the narrative, reframing beauty, success and staying true to oneself. Orozco frames Betty's most visible transformation from Season 1 — abandoning a polished image to return to her original appearance — as a deeply personal reckoning. "The glasses and the look symbolize going back to her essence, back to herself," Orozco explains. "She's wondering whether the polished path she took was faithful to who she is, or a response to external pressures and a search for social approval from Armando's world. She's at a point in life where certain events trigger a crisis where those questions surface." But she isn't the only one doing some introspection as Armando's world crumbles under the weight of poor life decisions. "I don't know if Armando has fully evolved," admits Abello. "Armando is a product of a society where the discourse completely changed for men — where everything you've done from the past until now is wrong, so you have to reinvent yourself... He's trying to learn a language of norms he never grew up with, one his upbringing didn't prepare him for, which leads to mistakes and a real sense that he doesn't know where he belongs." Those internal questions intersect with the show's larger themes. The series continues to address female empowerment and the tension between change and continuity. Even as beauty standards and workplace culture have evolved over time, some negative attitudes persist. There are still characters who call Betty ugly, reflecting real-world resistance to change. At the end of the first season, Mila discovered she was used to bring down Ecomoda — her own family's company — by a vengeful member of Marcela's (Natalia Ramírez) family. She also found Betty's younger‑self diary detailing the painful past with Armando before his change of heart and her mother's forgiveness. Furious yet newly empathetic, Mila — strong, sometimes snobby, once dismissive of her mother — now understands Betty more and is determined to help her be happy again, away from her father, who is now on her blacklist. Betty, torn between her daughter's expectations and her enduring love for Armando, wants to reconcile her family and find a way to save Ecomoda from bankruptcy, a takeover, and legal consequences tied to Armando's failed investments during the pandemic. Armando, meanwhile, struggles with his own reinvention, burdened by his father's shadow and a need to prove he can be better for his family and everyone who depends on the company. "I feel we've done a great, conscientious job, with a lot of love, and we've had fun—and that will surely come through," Orozco says of the new season, which she hopes gets picked up for a third installment. The series is produced by RCN Estudios and written by Marta Betoldi (Ciega a Citas), César Betancur (Rigo), Valeria Gómez (Manes), and Luis Carlos Ávila (La Reina del Flow), and directed by Mauricio Cruz Fortunato (Manes). Season 2 is executive produced by Yalile Giordanelli (Ana de Nadie), Alexander Marín, VP of Distribution at RCN Estudios, and Juan Pablo Posada (Manes), RCN Estudios production VP. Betty la Fea: La Historia Continúa premieres today, August 15, exclusively on Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories. The new season has 10 episodes, with two released each week.
