Netflix is currently in production with Nowhere Man, hailing its first Mandarin-language Original TV series for its international audience. The streaming service teased a peak at the cast in costume for its prison-scenes in a first look photo last week featuring actors Joseph Chang, Bo-Chieh Wang, and Zhou Ming-Fu.
Nowhere Man follows the death row inmate Quan who learned of his son being kidnapped while waiting for the execution in jail. To save his son and protect his family, Quan schemes a jailbreak, only to find himself in an even more dangerous collision. From time to time, Quan falls into the state of half-sleep and he will lead the viewer onto the freeway of redemption. It is a story woven with moving brotherhood, intricate gangster backdrop and breathtaking jail escape.
Filming began on October 3 in Taiwan with DJ Chen writing and directing the series which also casts actress Alyssa Chia and Taiwanese singer Mavis Fan, and actors Jeremy Liu, and Greg Hsu. Netflix‘s statement last week delves further into some details about the production which notes the aforementioned lead trio underwent a lot of heavy-duty exercise and training, and a bit of head-shaving, for their respective roles, as well as a bit of inside humor from rehearsing the expletive-laden script whilst getting into their roles when required.
Japanese martial arts instructor Sonomura Kensuke (Resident Evil: Degeneration/Damnation/Vendetta, Bushido Man, Nowhere Girl, Destruction Babies) is choreographing the show’s key fight sequences to enhance a sense of realism in the drama.
The New Taipei City Film Assist & Development Center and Ministry of Justice’s Agency Against Corruption (ACA) provided Netflix with a production facility within the ACA’s Learning Center for the crew to construct the prison’s inner-workings, solitary confinement cells and prisoner classrooms for an even more immersive environment for the actors. Principal photography on Nowhere Man is scheduled to complete in about a month or sooner with a 2019 premiere date to be expected.