HBO to premier first Thai-language original series

It seems to become the currently popular trend for global streaming platforms to create their own “original content.” For the Thai language, Netflix was the first to start “The Stranded” series followed by “Bangkok Breaking,” while media giant WarnerMedia announced “Forbidden” to be shown in HBO Asia.

Filming of the eight-part, hour-long series is the third HBO Asia Original in production.

“Forbidden” is co-directed by Thai award-winning filmmakers Anucha Boonyawatana (The Blue Hour, Malila) and Korean-American Josh Kim (How to Win at Checkers (Every Time)).

Set in Thailand, this soon-to-be-premiered thriller revolves around four childhood friends who travel out of the capita to a remote village in the mountainous countryside to attend a funeral. Their journey leads to a spine-chilling incident in the woods, where they accidentally unleash an ancient curse.

The first two episodes were screened at Busan Film Festival last year. An official release date has yet to be announced, but most likely early 2022.

Despite countries’ strict health measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic that have affected travel around the world, film and TV production in Thailand has been ongoing but with restrictions.

The production of “Forbidden” made use of three main locations in the Kingdom, fewer than had been previously planned, in order to minimize local travel. That in turn required non-sequential filming and extended the production process to be longer than expected.

Photo courtesy of: https://www.timeout.com/bangkok/news/