Daniel Dae Kim stars in and produces new Amazon Prime series Butterfly

Daniel Dae Kim has had a long, dynamic career. From Lost to Hawaii Five-0 to The Good Doctor, he’s enjoyed starring in some high-profile projects and become a recognizable face. But, as both star and executive producer in his new Amazon Prime series Butterfly, his new show feels especially personal.

In the action-adventure series, Kim plays David Jung, a former U.S. spy who faked his death after a mission went wrong to protect his young daughter. Nearly ten years later, she has become an assassin, and Jung leaves hiding to try to save her from the world he escaped.

“At its heart, it's actually a family relationship drama,” Kim shared with NPR. "And as a dad, I can tell you that a lot of the scenes between David, my character, and Rebecca resonated with me because I've made mistakes as a father and I've done so with the best of intentions, but the trauma that we can leave on our children and the trauma that is left on us as kids is sometimes something we really have to work hard to get through."

He also said doing his own stunts helps him connect to the character. Action scenes keep him engaged physically, which in turn makes his emotional performance more grounded.

Kim was sent the original script with a European setting. He asked to move the location to South Korea. He wanted the setting to reflect his Korean American identity and to create a story that blends two cultures on screen (SCMP). Filming took place entirely in South Korea with a mostly Korean-speaking crew. The team had to account for “translation time” in the schedule. Kim, fluent in Korean and English, often acted as a bridge between cast and crew (TV Insider).

The series features a large international cast. Reina Hardesty plays Rebecca, Jung’s daughter. Piper Perabo plays Juno, leader of a covert organization and a figure from Jung’s past. Kim Tae-hee makes her Hollywood debut as Jung’s wife. She said she was drawn to the possibility of betrayal and the emotional complexity of the relationships. Park Hae-soo, Sung Dong-il, Louis Landau, and Kim Ji-hoon also appear, giving the production both Korean and Western screen presence (High On Films).

Kim’s responsibilities as both lead actor and executive producer have allowed him to shape both the creative and practical sides of the project by a setting and production model that matched the themes of identity and belonging, as well as working to make sure language and cultural differences behind the camera became strengths, not obstacles. (FandomWire).

Butterfly blends action with personal stakes. It shows how family bonds survive under extreme pressure in addition to dealing with identity and the choices that define loyalty. When the series arrives on Prime Video, it will offer both tense espionage and a story rooted in personal experience. All six episodes release on August 13, 2025.

Photo courtesy Amazon Prime Video.