Studiocanal Boards Pan-Asian Thriller 'kiDnap Game' for Global Sales
Studiocanal has picked up international distribution for kiDnap Game, an 11-part pan-Asian survival thriller, meaning it will sell broadcast and streaming rights to buyers outside the show's home markets.
The deal was reported by Variety on Oct. 12. Studiocanal will handle sales in all international territories, including in North America. Its sister company Canal+ has already acquired the series for its own territories across Europe, French-speaking Africa and Asia.
The story starts with simultaneous kidnappings in seven cities. Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok, Naha and Manila are all hit at once. Strangers in each city must then play for survival.
The series is led by Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi and South Korean star Lee Joon-gi. It was created and directed by Japan's Yusuke Kato, with additional episodes directed by Shogo Miyaki and Hajime Hatakeyama from scripts by Ken Tate and Kaoru Yoshikawa.
The production was organised as a three-way partnership. Kato produces for Japan's Fuji Television, Hong Kong's MakerVille and South Korea's Simstory. Executive producers are Kentaro Shibuya, Janice Lee, Song Seon Eui, Kato and Kenichiro Hobara. Filming commenced in November 2025, according to Fuji TV, after a world premiere event in Tokyo in early October, according to Fuji TV.
Viewers in Asia are already watching. kiDnap Game premiered on Fuji TV in Japan on Oct. 6 and launched simultaneously across 28 Asian territories.
In South Korea it launched on Channel A and Disney+, and in Taiwan on Hami Video. In Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand it launched through Viu, the Hong Kong-based streaming service.
For fans outside Asia, this means a path to a local release is now open. Studiocanal will present the series to buyers at Mipcom, the annual television market in Cannes where channels and streamers shop for finished shows and formats.
