Netflix’s latest Chinese-language exclusive series, Copycat Killer, pulls together some of Taiwan’s top creative talent to bring the popular novel of the same name to the screen, albeit with a local twist.
Titled “Mohohan” in Japanese and penned by famed genre fiction writer Miyabe Miyuki, the crime novel has shifted 1.5 million copies in Japan, and more than 100,000 copies in Taiwan.
In Copycat Killer, a serial killer taps into the media interest over his murders and ruthlessly manipulates their victims, the police and the media like a puppet master, turning the case into a national spectacle.
Produced by Greener Grass Production, which was behind The Victims’ Game — a series so successful that it became the first Chinese-language production to be renewed by Netflix — Copycat Killer is helmed by luminaries such as producer Hank Tseng and directors Chang Jung-chi and Chang Heng-ju.
On moving the setting from Tokyo to Taipei, Tseng says: “The late nineties in Taiwan was an era of disintegrating social values, where truths and lies were muddled and mass media was on a high. Through this series, I hope to convey the simple principle that justice is irreplaceable.”
Copycat Killer continues to be an extension of Netflix’s aim to tell gripping stories that are rarely explored by mainstream TV, in collaboration with Taiwanese creators.
“Working with Greener Grass Production for a second time underlines our commitment to our partners and the local market,” said Jerry Zhang, Manager, Content, Netflix. “We’ve assembled the best creatives and the best team, so that we can create the highest-quality Chinese-language content for our viewers both locally and abroad.”
The Star-Studded Cast
Wu Kang-ren (Light the Night, The World Between Us) plays prosecutor Guo Xiaoqi, who is determined to pursue the serial killer at all costs while the murderer provokes him at every turn. The story is told through the eyes of Guo, a role that’s tailormade for Wu.
Alice Ko (Mom, Don’t Do That!, Must Marry a Woman) plays counseling psychologist Hu Yunhui, who specializes in criminal psychology and assists in profiling murderers. To flesh out her character, Ko consulted with professional psychologists before filming started.
Tuo Tsung-hua (Nowhere Man) plays Lin Shanyong, an Interpol officer who teams up with Guo to crack the serial murders.
Yao Chun-yao (Mirror Forest) late-night show host Chen Heping, who has a nose for news and often breaks news scoops for her TV station.
Fandy Fan (More Than Blue: The Series, We are Champions) plays Shen Jiawen, a popular nightclub DJ, whose cheerful disposition hides the unhealed wounds that lie within.
Cammy Chiang (Light the Night, Dancing to Silence) plays reporter Lu Yizhen, who crosses paths with Guo in her pursuit of journalistic truth. Discovering that they’re both headed in the same direction, Lu becomes Guo’s closest ally in tackling the case.
Hsia Teng-hung (Til Death Do Us Part) plays Hu Jianhe, the younger brother of psychologist Hu Yunhui, and is also Shen’s best friend from middle school. Through a series of incidents, both of them end up in the eye of the storm.
Ruby Lin makes a guest appearance as Yao Yaci, the leading anchor of a top-rated news station. This is Lin’s second outing with Netflix, following the success of Light the Night.
Copycat Killer’ will premiere later this year.