LONDON – NBCUniversal International Formats has signed its first scripted format deal in Japan with the country’s leading television network, FUJI TV, which will see hit show Suits adapted for local audiences. This marks the second international deal for the show, after International Formats sold the format to South Korea, where it rated as number one throughout the season on KBS.
Produced by FUJI TV in association with Kyodo Television, the 11×60’ series will be set in Tokyo and will premiere in October in the channel’s prime Getsuku drama slot – Mondays at 9pm. It will focus on Yukimura Uesugi, one of the four major law firms in Japan.
Renowned actor Yuji Oda (Tokyo Love Story, Last Christmas, Homeroom on the Beachside) will lead the stellar cast, in the role of hot shot attorney Shogo Kai (Harvey Specter). Young actor and member of Japanese pop group Hey! Say! JUMP, Yuto Nakajima (Hope, My Son, Engine) will play the newly appointed associate Daisuke Suzuki (Mike Ross).
Originally created by Aaron Korsh and produced by Universal Cable Productions for USA Network, Suits tells the story of Manhattan’s top corporate law firm, which is led by the legendary Harvey Specter, played by Gabriel Macht. It also stars Rick Hoffman, Katherine Heigl and Sarah Rafferty.
Currently in its eighth season on USA Network, the critically-acclaimed legal drama continues to attract millions of viewers and is one of the top three shows on the network. It has also received numerous accolades, including two People’s Choice Awards nominations for Favourite Dramedy and Favourite Cable TV Drama in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
Ana Langenberg, SVP Formats & Production, NBCUniversal International Formats, commented: “Suits remains as one of the most popular TV series in the US, so we are delighted to further extend the brand across Asia with FUJI TV. Centred on a set of dynamic and formidable characters, Suits lends itself perfectly to international markets, with its genius storytelling and universal themes of power, love and rivalry. It’s great to see such excellent on and off-screen talent attached to what will be the second international version of the show. We look forward to working with FUJI TV to bring this brilliant series to life.”
Hiroyuki Goto, General Producer, Drama Production, FUJI TV added: “I have been a true Suits fan since I saw the scene where Harvey meets Mike, and it made me dream of one day creating a Japanese version. What makes the series so intriguing is how the individual stories of the attractive characters starting with Harvey and Mike, as well as Louis, Rachel, Donna, and Jessica link together with the cases and incidents in each episode. The entire Japanese cast and crew will keep this in mind and do our very best to successfully localise Suits. We aim to create a cool and stylish drama that will not only attract attention within Japan, but also become one of the hottest topics of 2018 on a global scale as well.”
The Japanese version will be produced by FUJI TV in association with Kyodo Television. Hiroyuki Goto (Hana-Kimi, Change, Beautiful World) and Hiroshi Kobayashi (Princess Jellyfish, Broke Mom, Fragile) serve as producers. Masato Hijikata (Broke Mom, Ghostwriter, The After-Dinner Mysteries) is set to direct. Junya Ikegami (Aibou, Miss Pilot, Beautiful World) is scriptwriter. The deal was brokered by NBCUniversal International Formats’ Director of Asia Format Sales Liaison, Linfield Ng.
