Daniel Dae Kim has been a fixture on our screens for decades. We loved him in Lost. We watched him lead Hawaii Five-0. But honestly, seeing him step into the lead of a gritty, polyglot spy thriller feels like the role he was born to play. Butterfly is finally hitting screens in early 2025, and it isn't your typical "suit and tie" espionage drama.
It’s messy. It’s violent. It’s deeply rooted in the complex relationship between the United States and South Korea. Based on the 2015 graphic novel by Arash Amel and Marguerite Bennett, this adaptation has been simmering in development for a while, and the timing for its release couldn't be better given the global explosion of K-content.
What is the Butterfly TV series 2025 actually about?
The premise is pretty straightforward on the surface, but it gets complicated fast. Kim plays David Jung, a former U.S. intelligence operative living in South Korea. He’s "retired," which in TV-speak usually means he’s hiding from a past that is about to kick down his door.
His life is upended when a young, cold-blooded agent named Rebecca—played by the incredible Reina Hardesty—is sent to kill him.
What makes the Butterfly TV series 2025 stand out is the "chase" dynamic. It’s not just about bullets flying; it’s about the psychological toll of being an asset in a foreign land. The show explores the concept of "ghost" agents and the expendability of people who know too much. You’ve got a man fighting to protect the life he built and a young woman trying to prove she’s the best at a job that requires her to be a monster.
Why the production pedigree matters
You can usually tell if a show is going to be a "background noise" series or a "phone-down" series by looking at who is running the ship. Ken Woodruff, known for his work on Gotham and The Mentalist, is the showrunner here. He’s collaborating with Steph Cha, a novelist who knows a thing or two about tension and crime fiction.
This isn't a low-budget pick-up.
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Amazon’s MGM Studios was originally involved, but the series eventually landed at Disney’s 20th Television. Because of that, you’ll find it on Hulu (and the Disney+ integrated app) in the States, while international audiences will catch it as a Star Original. They filmed heavily on location in South Korea. That authenticity is huge. You can't fake the vibe of Seoul on a backlot in Atlanta. The city itself is a character—the neon, the narrow alleys, the humidity. It all adds to that claustrophobic feeling of being hunted.
Breaking down the cast
Daniel Dae Kim isn't just the star; he’s an executive producer through his company, 3AD. He’s been vocal about wanting to tell stories that feature Asian leads in roles that aren't defined solely by stereotypes. David Jung is a father, a killer, and a man out of time.
Then there is Reina Hardesty. If you saw her in The Flash or Documentary Now!, you know she has range. Playing an assassin sent to take down a veteran is a tough gig, but early buzz suggests she brings a chilling, almost detached energy to Rebecca that contrasts perfectly with Kim’s more weathered, emotional performance.
The supporting cast includes some heavy hitters from the Korean film industry, which reinforces that this is a truly bilingual production. This isn't just an American show set in Korea; it’s a show that lives in the space between the two cultures.
Is this just another John Wick clone?
People keep asking this. "Oh, another retired guy who gets dragged back in?"
Sorta. But not really.
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Butterfly leans much harder into the "spy" part of "spy thriller" than the "super-soldier" part. It’s more Bourne or The Americans than John Wick. It’s about tradecraft. It’s about how David Jung uses his knowledge of the local terrain and his old contacts to stay one step ahead.
There’s also a significant focus on the family dynamic. David has a son. That changes the stakes. It’s one thing to run for your life when you’re solo; it’s another when you have a kid who doesn't even know who you really are. That’s the emotional hook that makes you care when the shooting starts.
The Graphic Novel vs. The Show
If you haven't read the BOOM! Studios graphic novel, you should. It’s short—only four issues—which means the TV series has a lot of room to expand. The comic is very noir, very dark. The art by Antonio Fuso has this scratchy, high-contrast look that feels like a fever dream.
The Butterfly TV series 2025 seems to be taking that DNA and stretching it out into a long-form narrative. This allows for more exploration of Rebecca’s backstory. Why is she doing this? Who trained her? In the comic, she’s a force of nature. In the show, we get to see the cracks in the armor.
Expect a lot of subtitles
Seriously. If you’re the type of person who looks at your phone while watching TV, you’re going to miss half the plot. A huge chunk of the dialogue is in Korean. It’s part of the realism. When David is talking to locals or blending into a crowd, he’s not speaking English with a thick accent; he’s speaking the language of the place he’s called home for years.
It adds a layer of immersion that is often missing from Western-produced "international" thrillers.
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What to look for in the first few episodes
The pacing is reportedly brisk. They don't waste ten episodes on a story that could be told in five. Here is what you should keep an eye on as you start your binge:
- The visual language: Look at how they use color. Seoul is vibrant, but the world of the spies is often muted and gray.
- The fight choreography: It’s messy. People get hurt. It’s not choreographed like a dance; it looks like a struggle for survival.
- The tech: Since this is a 2025 release, the surveillance tech used in the show feels cutting-edge. It shows how hard it is to actually "disappear" in a modern, hyper-connected city.
Logistics: Where and when to watch
The Butterfly TV series 2025 is set to be a flagship mid-season replacement or a major spring release.
Since it’s a 20th Television production, it will be a "Hulu Original" in the U.S. If you have the Disney+ bundle, it’ll be right there on your dashboard. For those in the UK, Canada, or Australia, look for it under the "Star" tile on Disney+.
There hasn't been an official word on a Season 2 yet, but the way the story is structured suggests they are building a world, not just a one-off miniseries. Daniel Dae Kim has hinted in interviews that the "Butterfly" universe has a lot of "ghosts" yet to be revealed.
The verdict on the hype
Is it worth the wait? Honestly, yeah.
We’re in an era where "prestige TV" can sometimes feel a bit bloated and slow. Butterfly feels like a throwback to the high-stakes thrillers of the 2000s but with a modern, sophisticated lens. It’s smart, it’s fast, and it gives a legendary actor like Kim the spotlight he deserves.
If you’re a fan of Slow Horses or The Old Man, this is going to be right up your alley. It’s got that same "world-weary spy" energy but with a fresh setting and a much more kinetic pace.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Read the Source Material: Pick up the Butterfly graphic novel by Arash Amel to see the original vision before the show potentially diverges from the ending.
- Check Your Subscription: Ensure your Hulu or Disney+ account is active by February 2025, as that is the rumored window for the premiere.
- Watch the Trailer Closely: When the full trailer drops, pay attention to the flashback sequences; they hold the key to why David Jung was burned by the agency in the first place.