Netflix is set to add another international series to its growing slate with “Mad Unicorn.”
The Thai drama, helmed by award-winning director Nottapon Boonprakob (“Come and See”), draws inspiration from the true story of Thailand‘s first unicorn startup in the competitive express delivery industry.
The series stars Ice-Natara Nopparatayapon (“One for the Road,” “Delete”) as Santi, a determined entrepreneur whose fluent Mandarin – taught by his mother – becomes his unexpected competitive advantage. When Santi launches “Thunder Express” in hopes of lifting his family from poverty, his path crosses with ruthless tycoon Kanin, portrayed by celebrated actor-musician Ek-Thaneth Warakulnukroh (“The Sea is Watching”).
After facing betrayal, Santi forges crucial alliances with sharp-witted financier Xiaoyu (Janeyeh Jiranorraphat) and antisocial coding prodigy Ruijie (Dr. Palang Rocksilp) to navigate the cutthroat business landscape.
Set against Bangkok’s dynamic commercial backdrop, “Mad Unicorn” seeks to deliver cultural authenticity alongside a narrative of innovation, ambition and redemption. The trailer offers glimpses of Santi’s journey from mountain life to the high-pressure express delivery world as he confronts betrayal and fierce competition.
The series joins Netflix’s expanding catalog of Asian content as the streamer continues investing in region-specific storytelling with global appeal.
“Mad Unicorn” premieres May 29.
Minyoung Kim, Netflix’s VP of content for Asia (ex-India), revealed recently that the streaming giant’s local-first strategy was behind the unprecedented success of “Squid Game” and continues to drive the platform’s content decisions across Asian markets. “When I commissioned ‘Squid Game,’ we were never trying to find a global show,” Kim told Variety during the streamer’s recent Asia Pacific showcase in Tokyo. “We always look for stories that are going to have an impact in the local market, that is going to really touch our local audience.”
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