Critically Acclaimed Filmmaker Lulu Wang Opens Up On How Nicole Kidman Brought Prime Video’s Expats To Her

The Amazon Original series Expats has been eagerly awaited by audiences ever since its announcement. Set against the backdrop of Hong Kong, the upcoming drama explores the thin line between victimhood and culpability through the lens of three American women based on the best-selling book by Janice Y. K. Lee's 2016 novel 'The Expatriates'. Critically acclaimed director Lulu Wang talks about how the Oscar winning actress Nicole Kidman brought Expats to her and how grateful she is for having had the chance and the liberty to bring the story to life.

"When Nicole [Kidman] first brought Expats to me, I read the book, and I was very interested in doing the show for a number of reasons," said Lulu Wang. "First of all, I've always loved Hong Kong and wanted to shoot in Hong Kong and have the opportunity to work with Nicole. The story captures friendship and grief in a way I'd never seen before. It was an opportunity to explore grief in a real way, but with a lot of levity." Wang further adds, "I think at one point, I jokingly said Nicole was going to be a background actor, and everybody looked at me like I was crazy. But Nicole was excited and said, 'Yeah, isn't that cool?' Nicole was totally game to play with expectations, and I was very grateful for her support in that."

Directed by Lulu Wang, Expats is a limited series that spans six captivating episodes. Besides Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue, and Ji-young Yoo in the lead, it boasts a talented cast in supporting roles, including Brian Tee and Jack Huston. The series will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video with two episodes premiering on January 26, and new episodes launching weekly until the finale on February 23, 2024.