Netflix Prepares Chinese-Language Content, Teases ‘Born For The Spotlight’

Netflix has unveiled plans to bolster its Chinese-language content slate, focusing on its hub and partnerships in Taiwan.

The streamer’s head of Chinese Language Content, Maya Huang, elaborated on her team’s strategy in Taiwan and introduced the English-language teaser and release date for the upcoming series Born for the Spotlight. This 12-episode series marks the first collaboration between Taiwanese actresses Hsieh Ying-xuan and Cheryl Yang.

Born for the Spotlight will have its world premiere in the On-Screen section at the upcoming Busan International Film Festival, before debuting on Netflix on November 7. Written and directed by Yen Yi-wen (The Making of an Ordinary Woman) and produced by Olive Ting (Oh No! Here Comes Trouble), the series is set in the competitive world of showbiz. In this narrative, Hsieh and Yang portray Hsueh Ya-chi and Chou Fan, starting as inseparable best friends but soon becoming estranged and bitter rivals. Chou Fan is a free-spirited leading actress, while Hsueh shifts from acting to working as a producer and manager behind the scenes.

Huang also highlighted other upcoming Netflix titles on the Chinese-language slate like The Resurrected and Forget You Not, emphasizing that the streamer is targeting its local Taiwanese audience.

“What we are looking for is to have stories that will resonate with our local audience, which is in Taiwan,” Huang remarked. “When we talk about Chinese language content, we are not speaking about a diaspora worldwide — we are more focused on Taiwan and then the APAC regional audience. It’s not just the language that we share; it’s also the cultural part and the history.”

Local productions and partnerships play a crucial role in Netflix’s content strategy, as demonstrated by their collaboration with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) through the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity initiative. Netflix ventured into Taiwan in 2016, and has since been invested in the local production ecosystem.

“The production ecosystem in Taiwan has its own strengths and challenges. We are making long-term investments in talent both above the line and below the line. Each original show involves collaboration with local talent to enhance the quality of storytelling, production, and best practices regarding safety and respect on set,” added Huang.

She cited the series Copycat Killer as an example of their goals. Adapted from a Japanese novel, Taiwanese creators translated it into a relatable story for the local audience while also garnering significant viewership beyond Chinese-speaking regions.

“Creators, producers, writers, and directors in Taiwan possess a good understanding of genres and a strong sense of universal topics relevant not only to our local audience but also to global audiences,” Huang elaborated. “We aim to push the boundaries by bringing in more resources, investing more in local stories, and helping creators to tell bolder stories, creating genres that haven’t been seen in Taiwan before."

Source: Variety