# Release and distribution of kiDnap GAME thriller series

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/release-of-kidnap-game-thriller-series
> Updated: 2026-10-12T06:00:00.000Z. Sources: 16. Developments: 4.

The international thriller series ‘kiDnap GAME’ is a joint production involving Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong. The plot centers on simultaneous kidnappings across seven Asian cities, including Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok, Naha, and Manila, forcing families into a survival game. The 11-part series follows seven strangers tasked with missions to save a loved one under the premise that only one can be rescued.

Following its premiere on Fuji TV in Japan, which achieved a household viewership rating of 4.7% in the Kanto region, the series launched across 28 Asian territories via platforms such as Channel A, Disney+, Hami Video, and Viu. The production, directed by Yusuke Kato, features a multi-national cast including Kentaro Sakaguchi, Lee Joon-gi, and Ke Jia-yan.

Expanding its global reach, Studiocanal has acquired the international distribution rights for the series. Additionally, Canal+ has acquired the production for territories across Europe, French-speaking Africa, and Asia. The project remains one of the largest-scale international dramas to date, involving over 1,000 staff members and filming across multiple countries.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-12: Studiocanal acquires pan-Asian thriller ‘kiDnap Game’

Studiocanal has secured international rights for ‘kiDnap Game’, a pan-Asian survival thriller starring Kentaro Sakaguchi and Lee Joon-gi involving simultaneous kidnappings across seven Asian cities.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/studiocanal-acquires-pan-asian-thriller-kidnap-game

### 2026-10-05: kiDnap GAME thriller drama premieres across seven Asian cities

The thriller drama ‘kiDnap GAME’, starring Sakaguchi Kentaro and Lee Joon Gi, premiered, following a survival game triggered by simultaneous kidnappings across seven Asian cities.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sakaguchi-kentaro-and-lee-joon-gi-star-in-kidnapping-thriller-kidnap-game

### 2026-10-02: Cast of ‘kiDnap GAME’ hold multilingual world premiere in Tokyo

Cast members of the international co-production ‘kiDnap GAME’ held a multilingual world premiere in Tokyo, highlighting the drama's diverse Asian production and multi-language setting.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cast-of-kidnap-game-hold-multilingual-world-premiere-in-tokyo

### 2026-10-01: kiDnap GAME thriller series to star Kentaro Sakaguchi and Lee Joon-gi

The international thriller ‘kiDnap GAME’, starring Kentaro Sakaguchi and Lee Joon-gi, premieres October 6, following a deadly kidnapping game spanning seven Asian cities.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kidnap-game-thriller-series-to-star-kentaro-sakaguchi-and-lee-joon-gi

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Cite as: Release and distribution of kiDnap GAME thriller series. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/release-of-kidnap-game-thriller-series