Supernatural crime series, “Detective Daji” is to be launched as a project at next week’s Asia TV Forum and Market (ATF) in Singapore.
The U.S.-Taiwanese show involves a female police officer Detective Daji Su murdered in the line of duty. She is given a second chance at life when she is resurrected by an ancient Fox Demon who is hell-bent on revenge and reclaiming her own place in the demonic world.
The underlying IP was created by American screenwriter, Todd DeBonis (“The Monkey King’s Daughter,” “The Nine-Tailed Fox”), while the screenplay for the pilot episode was developed by Sarso Chou, DeBonis, Steve Chicorel and Organic Media Group’s Taiwan anchor producer, Samantha Kao Lin-shiu.
The show is expected to run to eight one-hour episodes and feature Taiwan star Kuo Hsueh-Fu, better known as Puff Kuo. Production is by Taipei and Los Angeles based Organic Media Group and Taiwan’s Sarso Entertainment.
Currently at development stage, “Detective Daji” has been chosen as one of five finalists for the ATF Mediacorp Drama Concepts & Co-production Pitch 2024, within ATF. The finalist must deliver an English language, 10-minute, pitch and visual presentation on Dec. 5th at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Hotel. The winner will receive a cash prize of S$10,000 ($7,460).
“I was surprised that the competition excluded Singapore production companies, but if we win, we can for sure shoot in Singapore and help support local crews be part of our show,” said Chou, who is known for recent Netflix series “Mom Don’t Do That” and hit Taiwanese mob movie, “GATAO, Like Father Like Son.”
“In order to accept the finalist nomination, we had to sign a contract in advance with ATF sponsor Mediacorp for them to coproduce and hopefully help commission the series, which was a pleasant surprise,” said Chicorel, who previously executive produced Roku’s first exclusive original crime drama series, “Cypher.”
“Not all actresses can pull off playing twin characters, but Puff Kuo is not just a beautiful talent, she can act, as demonstrated in her nomination at the Golden Bell this year for best actress in the TV series ‘At the Moment’,” said Kao. With every criminal case Daji Su investigates, Fox Daji needs to replenish her ch’i in order to sustain them both. She needs to feed on humans. But Daji Su’s a cop, charged with protecting life, not taking it.
“Detective Daji” is written to be produce and staged in any Asian locale worldwide. The supporting cast reflects the multicultural mix of the primary audience and target territory,” said Chou and Chicorel. The production will include martial arts (swordplay, Kung Fu, Tai Chi), special effects (fantasy, magic, gun play, wire-work and fox-demon transformations) with the finished work intended to hit the TV-MA graphic and fantasy violence rating for crime, language and sexual situations).
“We are on the hunt for the next big drama hit that can set new trends in content across the world, with the potential to travel internationally. We will focus on stand-out, scripted format ideas that are fresh, new, innovative, entertaining, but with broad appeal as well,” said Chou and Chicorel.
Todd DeBonis
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