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What to know about Nicole Kidman’s TV show in Hong Kong, Expats – from the Amazon Prime series’ debut at TIFF and the book it’s based on, to the cast and controversy around Kidman skipping quarantine

Nicole Kidman and Brian Tee in Expats. Photo: Prime Video
Nicole Kidman and Brian Tee in Expats. Photo: Prime Video

  • Expats, the Amazon Prime Video TV series starring Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman and directed by The Farewell’s Lulu Wang, just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival
  • The show’s cast list also features Sarayu Blue from XO, Kitty, Brian Tee from Jurassic World and Chicago Med, and Jack Huston, who stars in American Hustle, The Irishman and House of Gucci

Expats, the Amazon Prime Video TV series starring Nicole Kidman and shot in Hong Kong during the Covid-19 pandemic, just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8.

Nicole Kidman jumps for joy behind the scenes with co-star Brian Tee and director Lulu Wang. Photo: @thumbelulu/Instagram
Nicole Kidman jumps for joy behind the scenes with co-star Brian Tee and director Lulu Wang. Photo: @thumbelulu/Instagram

TIFF debuted the series’ penultimate episode “Central”, which follows the narratives of two Filipina domestic workers linked to the expat community.

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A scene from Expats. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
A scene from Expats. Photo: Amazon Prime Video

It covers a time when the local political movement is at a point of no return. Meanwhile, a typhoon hits the city.

Expats cast member Sarayu Blue and director Lulu Wang. Photo: @thumbelulu/Instagram
Expats cast member Sarayu Blue and director Lulu Wang. Photo: @thumbelulu/Instagram

Based on Janice Y.K. Lee’s internationally bestselling 2016 novel The Expatriates, the new TV show takes a non-linear approach to storytelling, so audiences can watch and experience the characters’ journeys from any of the six episodes.

A scene from Expats. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
A scene from Expats. Photo: Amazon Prime Video

Here’s everything you need to know about the highly anticipated series …

Faye Bradley
Faye Bradley is a Hong Kong-based contributing online editor for Style by SCMP, where she covers topics in luxury, pop culture, celebrity, influencer, entertainment, travel, trending news, food and drinks, and lifestyle. As a freelance writer, her work has been featured in CNN Style, Business Insider, Michelin Guide, Travel + Leisure Asia, China Daily, Design Anthology, BurdaLuxury, Skyscanner, and Hong Kong Tourism Board. With a BA (Hons) in art and design from the University of Leeds, she is the co-founder of Paradigm Haus, a print publication that covers artists, creatives and entrepreneurs the world over, and the founder of CSP Times, a digital luxury lifestyle website. She is also an editor for luxury wellness travel publication Compare Retreats.