Hulu Developing New Series “Gaijin” Based On Ivan Orkin

Hulu is developing a brand new drama series with Lionsgate Television called “Gaijin”, which is Japanese for foreigner or outsider, and it is about a Westerner’s adventures in Japan, but unlike FX’s “Shōgun”, it is set in modern times.

This show is inspired by Ivan Orkin’s real-life story that led to the creation of Ivan Ramen, a ramen shop in Tokyo, before expanding to New York and London. Ivan also appeared on Netflix’s “Chef’s Table”.

The story follows an American culinary school dropout who spontaneously moves to Tokyo with his young son following his wife’s death. Desperate to maintain a connection to his wife’s home country, Ivan plunges headfirst into life in Japan. He moves in with his in-laws, whom he barely knows and barely likes, and takes action on a long-held dream of opening his own restaurant – in this case, a ramen shop. Through hardships, culture clashes and humorous moments lost in translation, Ivan will, over the course of the series, take on the Herculean task of building a business and rebuilding a life.

According to Deadline, it is being executive produced by Shannon Goss and Ivan Orkin, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who is also linked to star in the project. Other executive producers include Jared Geller via Hit Record and Nickel City Pictures’ Mark Fasano, Matthew Goldberg, Mike Blutstein and Andrew Gottlieb.

Shannon has previously worked on FX’s “Shōgun”, along with “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon”, while Joseph has previously starred in “The Dark Knight Rises” and “3rd Rock From the Sun”.

No other details on the show have been revealed, such as who else might star in it or when it might go into production, but as with all projects in development, it could still go through some creative changes and might not necessarily arrive on Hulu and Disney+.

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