Daniel Dae Kim expresses desire to be the romantic lead in Prime Video’s Butterfly, boosting Asian representation.
Dream of a Romantic Lead
57-year-old Daniel Dae Kim has made his mark in the action and sci-fi worlds, whether as Jin-Soo Kwon in Lost or Chin Ho Kelly in Hawaii Five-0.
But there’s one role he hasn’t done yet: the romantic lead.
“I’ve never tried a boy meets girl type of story, but I’m getting older now—maybe man meets woman is the right fit,” says Kim.
Her charisma in Butterfly
Kim not only stars in Prime Video’s new series Butterfly, but also produces it.
In this thriller, he plays a former intelligence operative who is stalked by an agent in the form of his own daughter.
With a mix of South Korean and English-Korean dialogue in 21 locations, it seems Kim really wants to bring Korean culture to a global audience.
Writing history on Broadway
This year, Kim made history by earning a Tony Award nomination as lead actor in the play Yellow Face.
“I started my career at a time when Asian representation was very different,” he shares.
Kim believes the nomination is not just a personal achievement but a reflection of cultural progress.
The next step? An Asian male winning.
Milestones for Asian representation
“Parasite, Crazy Rich Asians, Squid Game, Beef—they all paved the way for our story,” Kim says.
Considering Butterfly as not just a story about Korea but a ‘love letter’, he is happy that there is now both acceptance and curiosity for Asian-centric content.
The journey ahead
Amidst success, Kim doesn’t want to forget his journey.
“Every day I focus on the work that is at hand, but sometimes while climbing a cliff, one has to look back and see the value,” he muses.
His passion to be the romantic lead, his Broadway win, and his desire to show the world a new face of Korea through Butterfly—all add to the colour of his story.
Butterfly is now streaming on Prime Video, and Kim’s next endeavor could also turn a new Hollywood trend into a rout.