Lee Sung Jin, creator of ‘Beef,’ has launched production company Lila Pictures and is developing two projects with Netflix. The move comes six months after he renewed his overall deal with the streamer. Hyunji Ward has joined Lila Pictures as SVP of Film and Television.
Lila Pictures will develop original projects for film and television for Lee to create, write, direct and executive produce, while also supporting new voices. Ward previously worked in UTA’s motion picture department and spent the past four years as a creative director at TeaTime Pictures. Her producing credits include ‘Splitsville,’ ‘Daddio’ and the series ‘Slip.’
One of the Netflix projects is ‘The Only Child,’ a limited series reuniting Lee with ‘Beef’ star Ali Wong. Wong will star as the mother of a professional archer preparing to compete for her first gold medal, and will also produce the series.
The second project, ‘Citizen’s Arrest,’ is a drama created by Gene Hong, a producer on ‘Beef’ who has also executive produced series including ‘Magnum P.I.’ It follows two longtime friends and neighbors who become fixated on solving a local crime as a way to avoid confronting personal crises.
Lee said he was launching the company with Netflix’s support and Ward’s help, and described the name Lila as a Sanskrit term that can be interpreted as “the divine play.”
Sources: Deadline.