Japanese broadcaster Fuji TV is launching a local remake of the Thai drama Girl from Nowhere next month exclusively on its FOD streaming platform.
The series was commissioned by Thailand’s GMM25 in 2018 and later expanded its reach on Netflix for seasons one and two. The latest installment, Girl From Nowhere: The Reset, is available on Channel ONE HD 31, the oneD streaming platform in Thailand, as well as on Netflix.
Yukihiko Tsutsumi, Kazuyoshi Kumakiri, Yoo Youngseon, and Miyuki Hatanaka are directing the six-episode Japanese remake, with a cast led by Arisa Nakajima.
Fuji TV hails the initiative as a milestone in its expanding globalization strategy as it looks to bolster collaborations with international partners. The deal with GMM Studios International marks the first remake for the Thai drama.
Ekachai Uekrongtham, chief content officer and MD at GMM Studios International, commented, “This first-ever international remake welcomes a new Nanno, brought to life by revered and bold Asian directors, into our ever-growing story multiverse —as part of GMM Studios International’s broader strategy to grow the series into a global IP and drive multiplatform transmedia expansion.”
Kumakiri, one of the directors, commented, “While the original version dealt with very heavy and intense subject matter, the fact that it was set in a more unfamiliar setting gave it a kind of abstract, fantastical appeal. However, when remaking it with Japan as the setting, things become different. When such intense themes unfold within familiar landscapes, they inevitably feel more visceral, that can risk making viewers feel uncomfortable or repulsed more than necessary. In this context, Arisa Nakajima became a character with an elusive presence. Her role possesses a somewhat intangible quality, and that sense of unreality helps elevate the story back into the realm of fantasy.”
