Public broadcaster, Korean Broadcasting System has pacted with “Batman” producer Michael Uslan’s U2K Entertainment to remake five Korean TV dramas in the U.S.
The two companies will additionally co-operate to make Korean versions of American TV dramas and co-produce TV adaptations of Korean web cartoons, which KBS will televise. The deal was announced at a KBS press event in Seoul on Monday.
U2K was founded in 2015 by Jon Karas, David Uslan, Jonathan Kim and Michael Uslan.
KBS said that the two companies have selected 2005’s “Resurrection” (a.k.a “Life Again”) as the first KBS TV drama to receive remake treatment. Starring Uhm Tae-woong and Han Ji-min in the lead, “Resurrection” is about a man who pretends to be his twin brother to reveal the conspiracy surrounding his father’s death.
Uslan is not the first American producer to reach out for the series’ remake. In 2010, Another U.S. production company Kapital Entertainment signed a deal with KBS, obtaining remake rights to two KBS dramas, one of which was “Resurrection.” KBS and U2K will unveil the full remake lineup at next month’s American Film Market.
“”Resurrection’ is a very exciting drama which was very popular amongst fans and this is why Uslan saw potential in it. It’s unfortunate that it competed against ‘My Name is Kim Sam Soon’ in the same time slot; which was what affected its ratings,” said Jung Ji-young, KBS Content Business Office manager.
While Uslan has been busily developing business relationships in Asia, including a four film development deal with China’s Huace Group and adaptation deals with Korean web cartoon firm Rollingstory, KBS has also embarked in its own expansion to America.
Earlier this month, KBS signed a format licensing agreement with U.S. producer Chicken Soup for the Soul for an American remake of its megahit reality show “The Return of Superman,” which is set to be broadcast in US next year.
