Popular Korean TV series “Hotel Del Luna (Directed by Oh Chung-hwan and Kim Jung-hyun, written by Hong Jeong-eun and Hong Mi-ran)” is to be adapted into an English language TV series for a global audience. Studio Dragon produced the original series, which aired on tvN from July to September of 2019. Studio Dragon and Skydance TV, Skydance Media’s television scripted division, will jointly develop and produce the series.
On February 2020, CJ ENM and Studio Dragon signed a strategic partnership with Skydance Media for the joint development, - production and investment in film, scripted and unscripted television series, as well as animation. Skydance Media is a global film and television studio that produced tentpole films such as the “Mission Impossible” franchise, “Terminator”, and “6 Underground” and breakout television series such as “Grace and Frankie”, “Jack Ryan” and “Altered Carbon.”
Through this partnership with Skydance, Studio Dragon will play an active role in the development, production, financing and distribution process of the TV series. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the companies have been actively developing a series of project, with Hotel Del Luna being the first one to attach a writer.
Alison Schapker serves as showrunner for Skydance Television’s Altered Carbon. Previously, she was a writer and co-executive producer on ABC’s hit Scandal. She is well known for her work on the ABC espionage series Alias and for the FOX science-fiction series Fringe. She has also worked on series such as Charmed, Lost, Almost Human and served as showrunner for two seasons of Brothers & Sisters.
Schapker will develop and serve as executive producer of the series along with Miky Lee, Jinnie Choi, Hyun Park of CJ ENM/Studio Dragon and David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Bill Bost of Skydance.
“We are thrilled to have Alison lead the adaptation of Hotel Del Luna, hopefully our first of many co-development projects with Skydance,” said Hyun Park, Head of Studio Dragon’s Global Division. “We believe Hotel Del Luna will enhance the reputation of Korean storytelling around the world by showcasing the global appeal of our local stories.”
“At its core, Hotel Del Luna is a spectacular visual fantasy grounded in a story about the importance of human connection, lost loves and unfinished business,” said Bill Bost, President, Skydance Television. “We are excited to be partnering with Alison and Studio Dragon to bring this timeless story to a global audience.”
“Hotel Del Luna” is a fantasy romance that features an elite hotelier who becomes the manager of Hotel Del Luna, a mystical hotel that only caters to spirits at night, after stumbling upon a fateful event. The series was a one of the biggest hits if 2019 in the Asian territory.
Studio Dragon recently set up Studio Dragon International, its U.S. subsidiary, in Los Angeles. Studio Dragon International will focus on developing and producing US shows, based on existing Studio Dragon IP, as well as original stories. The subsidiary will further showcase the strength and adaptability of Korean IP as well as the creativity of Korea’s best writers and directors.