While he’s best known as an actor on hit shows like Lost and Hawaii Five-0, Daniel Dae Kim has also been a producer on the ABC hit series The Good Doctor.
The series, starring Freddie Highmore as the title character, is originally based on the South Korean TV series of the same name, with South Korean native Kim, 52, originally set to produce the show for CBS back in 2014.
During a wide-ranging interview with Vulture, Kim explained that they were initially eyeing an Asian lead for the show, in the early stages.
Producer: While he’s best known as an actor on hit shows like Lost and Hawaii Five-0, Daniel Dae Kim has also been a producer on the ABC hit series The Good Doctor
Original: The series, starring Freddie Highmore as the title character, is originally based on the South Korean TV series of the same name, with South Korean native Kim, 52, originally set to produce the show for CBS back in 2014
‘I wanted an Asian lead. The first time we developed it, it was with an Asian lead,’ Kim said of the show’s first stint in development at CBS.
CBS ultimately didn’t pick up the project, with the show being moved to Sony Pictures Television and ABC issuing a put pilot commitment in 2016, when House creator David Shore came on board.
‘And the second time, when [David] Shore came aboard, we had a conversation about it,’ Kim added.
Asian lead: ‘I wanted an Asian lead. The first time we developed it, it was with an Asian lead,’ Kim said of the show’s first stint in development at CBS
‘When you start working with a showrunner, it has to be a proper meeting of the minds because he’s the one that’ll be running the show every day. And so he had to have a level of comfort with it,’ Kim continued.
He added that, ‘I’m not going to say he was the one that wanted a white lead, but I will say that it became less clear to him how an Asian lead would work.’
Kim said the studio ultimately brought in Freddie Highmore for the lead, adding both he and Shore, ‘absolutely loved.’
White lead: He added that, ‘I’m not going to say he was the one that wanted a white lead, but I will say that it became less clear to him how an Asian lead would work’
With Highmore aboard, Kim said his focus, ‘it shifted the focus to creating a diverse ensemble’ around the young star.
Kim added that the only ‘real control’ he had over the project was in the early stages, before the showrunner came on board.
‘I have ownership of the project only until a showrunner comes aboard. And then, at that point, the power dynamic shifts,” he explained.
Diverse ensemble: With Highmore aboard, Kim said his focus, ‘it shifted the focus to creating a diverse ensemble’ around the young star
‘And then when your lead actor comes aboard, the power dynamic shifts again. And then when the ratings come, the power dynamic shifts again because there’s a studio and network involved,’ he added.
When asked why he compromised and not insisted on having the Asian lead in The Good Doctor, Kim simply said he just wanted the show to get made.
‘I felt like we were so close to getting a show made, and ultimately that is the goal. You can develop every show you want, but if none of them ever see the light of day, what’s the point?’ he said.
Compromise: When asked why he compromised and not insisted on having the Asian lead in The Good Doctor, Kim simply said he just wanted the show to get made