Copyright Variety
GrX Studio, the production company behind crime thrillers “Copycat Killer” and “The Victims’ Game,” is showcasing its latest project at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF). “The Ones I Killed and The Ones Who Killed Me” is a psychological crime drama with plans for a U.S.-Taiwan co-production. The series, adapted from Akira Higashiyama’s novel of the same name, follows a Taiwanese psychiatrist who becomes entangled in U.S. serial killings spanning three decades. Each body serves as a brutal message, forcing him to confront a past he desperately tried to forget. “The inspiration comes from the novel’s capture of the fragile beauty of childhood friendship and the painful contrast that comes with adulthood,” producer Lee Wen-yi and executive producer Tseng Han-hsien tell Variety. “That became the starting point for our adaptation.” The narrative centers on two childhood friends, Jason and Morris, who grew up in dysfunctional families and vowed to become each other’s family. “They are twin flames — light and shadow, yin and yang — illuminating each other’s tragic lives,” the producers explain. “But one incident tears them apart, and their fates are reversed.” When the pair reunite as adults, they find themselves on opposite sides of morality: Jason works as a psychiatrist assisting police, while Morris has become a serial killer challenging society’s definition of sanity. “The mystery of the crime is no longer about who the killer is, but how evil comes into being,” the producers note. “Have we, in order to survive, ever killed the kindness in another’s soul? Perhaps the real culprit is society itself.” The project represents GrX Studio’s continued exploration of the crime-thriller genre. “From ‘Copycat Killer’ to ‘The Victims’ Game,’ the GrX team has continued to explore and expand the possibilities of the crime-thriller genre,” the producers say. “With ‘The Ones I Killed and The Ones Who Killed Me,’ we aim to take that vision even further — deepening our psychological and moral inquiry while pushing creative boundaries.” The series will begin with a murder in Los Angeles, unfolding through the perspective of a Taiwanese psychiatrist who has lived in the U.S. for years as he reflects on his childhood in Taiwan. Filming is planned for both the U.S. and Taiwan, with the team actively seeking international co-production partners at TCCF. The project’s timing is deliberate. “The world has been changing rapidly in recent years,” the producers observe. “Across many countries, anti-immigration sentiments are rising, and people have begun to engage in deeper discussions about identity and immigration policies.” They note that original author Akira Higashiyama, who was born in Taiwan and later moved to Japan, brings a unique perspective on how different cultures shape identity. “At its creative core, the series explores the interdependent relationship between good and evil — like yin and yang — as a way to examine belonging and otherness,” the producers say. “The title itself suggests a mirror-like connection, just as the relationship between an investigator and a suspect in a crime thriller often reflects two sides of the same coin.” The script is currently 80% complete, with the writing team aiming to finalize it by year’s end. Pre-production is slated for Q3 2026, with filming scheduled to commence in Q1 2027. The creative team includes executive producer Hank Tseng, known for his global perspective and keen market insight in developing culturally rich, cross-border content. Producer Lee Wen-yi brings expertise in crafting narratives that explore human complexity and social structures. The writing team comprises John Cheng, who specializes in social realism and crime genres rooted in Taiwanese culture; Chen Cheng-yu, a senior screenwriter based in the U.S. with experience in American TV structure and writers’ room dynamics; Peng Huai-de, whose versatile storytelling balances emotional depth with entertainment value; and Cheng Wen-ting, who holds a master’s degree from NTUA’s Department of Radio and Television. GrX Studio encompasses film and television production, talent management, IP development, and business strategy, with a presence across the Asian market.
