Netflix has unveiled a raft of Chinese-language series set for 2026 release, all filmed-in-Taiwan with creators and talents from Taiwan and Hong Kong including Giddens Ko, Kai Ko, Wong Ching-po and Derek Kwok.
Confessions marks Hong Kong writer-director Wong’s first series debut, which also reunites the principal cast of his acclaimed smash hit The Pig, The Snake And The Pigeon. Ethan Ruan, Gingle Wang and Chen Yi-wen star in this psychological thriller about an explosive expert who is torn between compassion and indignation when he is forced to commit crimes in exchange for his kidnapped daughter’s return.
The Fixers, from Hung Tzu-hsuan, the director of last year’s biggest Taiwanese film 96 Minutes, is a fast-paced action-comedy about a down-and-out gangster (played by Christopher Lee) who becomes entangled in a network of operatives run by a century-old temple, navigating morally tricky assignments together with an arrogant second-generation political scion (by Shou Lou).
Scheduled for a Q4 release, Miracles Of The ER is a medical drama about a group of top physicians leading their first-year resident doctors through the challenges of medical crises, ethical dilemmas, and the emotional demands of caring for patients at the front line. The cast includes Wallace Huo and Kent Tsai.
Further upcoming series include Bloody Smart, a fantasy drama starring Hong Kong’s Gigi Leung and about a bloodfruit tree whose fruits can awaken long-suppressed desires; and Dogman, starring Joseph Cheng as a rock musician who used to have the world at his feet but is now unable to write a note.
Two of the new series are in production. How To Survive Med School, directed by hitmaker Giddens Ko whose latest film Kung Fu is set for a Lunar New Year release, along with two actors-turned-directors, Kai Ko and Tsai Jia-yin, follows freshman students juggling the pressures of medical school, young love, and family expectations, while Pacify is a supernatural sci-fi action thriller about a waitress who is drawn into a secret exorcism group and discovers how consciousness can shape reality. The latter is directed by Derek Kwok, Anthony Yan and Henri Wong from Hong Kong.
Also on this year’s slate are two previously announced titles. Million-Follower Detective is headlined by Hong Kong’s Ekin Cheng in his first Netflix series who plays an investigator trying to solve multiple murders predicted by an influencer on social media. Led by the creative team behind hit mystery drama Light The Night, it will be launched on February 12, ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays.
Agent From Above is a large-scale action-fantasy adapted from the first book of Taiwanese author Teensy’s popular novel series The Oracle Comes, which puts a modern spin on Taoist mythology. Kai Ko plays a spirit medium who must resolve supernatural disturbances to restore balance between the human and demon realms. A Q2 release is expected.
The Chinese-language series slate was unveiled as part of Netflix’s annual APAC preview. This January marks the international stream’s operations in APAC for 10 years.
Last year saw Taiwanese series such as crime mystery The Resurrected and family comedy drama I Am Married…But! find their audiences in Taiwan and across multiple markets in Asia, while Born For The Spotlight, a character drama about showbusiness, earned multiple Golden Bell Awards in Taiwan and was selected for Busan International Film Festival.
“As the industry evolves, our focus remains consistent: long-term commitment, creative excellence, and a platform where Chinese-language stories can flourish locally and reach audiences worldwide,” said Maya Huang, Netflix’s Taipei-based director of content for Chinese language.
“Our ambition is to be the destination for Chinese-language entertainment, that takes audiences into unexpected worlds and bold adventures that go beyond the everyday.”
Since 2020, Netflix has invested in developing Taiwan’s creative ecosystem through initiatives such as a multi-month Writers’ Room Workshop with Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), an inaugural production training programme with the Producers Association of Taiwan, and a new $16,000 (NT$500,000) Diverse & Inclusive Storytelling Award for the Golden Horse Film Project Promotion (FPP).
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