Steven Yeun’s new project has been set into motion. From Eternals writers Kaz and Ryan Firpo, Peacock is developing a 1960s crime saga set in Hawaii. The series will be directed by Fast & Furious director Justin Lin and The Walking Dead and Minari star Steven Yeun.
Not a lot has been revealed about the new show, but The Islands, inspired by actual events, is a story about American Imperialism, the fall of a kingdom, and changing a way of life. The crime drama comes from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group; Perfect Storm Entertainment; Lin’s Perfect Storm Entertainment; and Yeun’s Universal Remote.
Eternals writers Cousins Kaz and Ryan Firpo are writing and exec producing the series. Their previous work on the Marvel film, directed by Chloé Zhao and starring Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, and Kumail Nanjiani, went on to gross $400 million. Lin will exec produce and direct with his production partner Andrew Schneider who will also be an exec producer on the show. Yeun, who is not starring in the series, will also exec produce. This will mark the first true collaboration for Justin Lin and Yeun. The two also worked on last year’s Space Jam: A New Legacy. Lin was an executive producer, and Steven Yeun had a cameo as a Warner Bros. executive in the LeBron James/Looney Tunes animated film.
The Islands is Inspired by True Events
The Firpos are among the most talented writers in Hollywood right now. Aside from The Eternals, they are also behind the feature film Prodigy for Netflix and Will Packer Productions, based on Mark Millar’s original graphic novel, and sold their original sci-fi stoner-comedy feature The Aliens Are Stealing Our Weed to Paramount Pictures with Gina Rodriguez starring and producing. They are also developing Ruin, a World War II drama starring Margot Robbie, which will tell the story of a former Nazi captain who seeks redemption by hunting down members of his former SS Death Squad.
Lin has become one of Hollywood’s most successful producers and directors. Lin is set to direct parts one and two of Fast & Furious 10, the final installment of the hit Vin Diesel movie franchise. Lin is also producing the third season of HBO Max’s Warrior, based on a story by Bruce Lee, and he also recently directed the pilot and exec produced NBC’s The Endgame. He is under an overall film and TV deal with Universal Pictures and Universal Studio Group.
Lastly, Yeun, who is best known for his starring role on AMC hit zombie series The Walking Dead as Glenn Rhee, is starring in and exec producing Beef, a 10-part dramedy alongside Ali Wong, for Netflix. The series follows two people who are emotionally consumed with their involvement in a road rage incident. He will also be appearing next in Nope, Jordan Peele’s latest horror film, set to release this summer. He is coming off the back of the hit feature film Minari from Lee Isaac Chung and, in 2020, struck a production first-look TV deal with Amazon Studios. He became the first Korean actor to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for 2020’s Minari, which was directed by Lee Isaac Chung and nominated for six Academy Awards.
No release date has been announced yet, but stay tuned to find out more.