The Apple TV+ series Pachinko is the long-awaited adaptation of author Min Jin Lee's novel of the same name.
The epic family story examines the ways one crucial choice can impact an entire generation in a bloodline and features an international cast including Devs star Jin Ha.
Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, Ha opened up about the importance of the project where, for the first time in his career, he is part of an East Asian cast, telling an East Asian-specific story.
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Asked about what drew him to the story, Ha said: "I think so much of the story in Min Jin Lee's book and this production, drew me to want to audition. You know what I mean?
"I don't think I'm quite at a place where I'm like, 'Oh, I want to do this project. Let's talk to somebody.' It's more like, 'Let's see if I have a shot at being a part of something like this.'
"But I was just thinking, right before we started, sitting here with Anna [Sawai] – I'm reminding myself that there are a couple of other rooms around us right now, where people are also doing press junkets," he continued.
"And everybody's Asian who's being interviewed [laughs]. That's a reminder of like: 'Oh, right. This is a project where all of the series regulars are East Asian people, and this is a story that we've all come together to tell, that is an incredibly East Asian-specific story as well, that we are presenting as this universal tale of humanity.'
"It feels kind of surreal to be part of a project like this, because I've never been – as much as I've always yearned for something like this, this is definitely the first time that I've been able to be a part of a production and a show where we are the norm. We are the given – you know what I mean? – in the storytelling."
Ha also spoke about any concerns he may have had about the show not breaking through to a wider audience on a global scale.
"I don't want to necessarily speak it into the universe," Ha said. "But I think the obvious concerns – I like to believe – aren't concerns anymore, of like: this is a challenging show.
"This is not an easy-to-watch-as-you're-cleaning-the-house type of show. Do you know what I mean? This demands full engagement, and the attention and focus of the audience.
"I'd like to believe that people are hungry for this. We're hungry for this kind of content, this kind of storytelling. That's what I'd like to believe.
"But I'm also curious to see how anybody who might just come across the show – if they're cruising on Apple TV, and they're like, 'Oh, what's this?' and they check it out," he added.
"I want to have those audience members, those unsuspecting audience members, to get hooked, and to be like, 'Oh, I'm actually really into this. Let's keep watching.'"
Pachinko premieres on Apple TV+ today (March 25).
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Stephanie is a writer who specialises in pro wrestling, covering everything from AEW and WWE to NJPW.
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