Apple Developing New TV Show Based on Bestselling Novel 'Pachinko' - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Developing New TV Show Based on Bestselling Novel 'Pachinko'

pachinkoApple has secured the rights to create a new TV series based on Min Jin Lee's bestselling 2017 novel "Pachinko," reports Variety.

"Pachinko," a National Book Award finalist, chronicles the lives of four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family as they migrate to and establish a life in Japan.

The story begins in 1911 with the birth of Sunja, who becomes involved with a married yakuza, falling pregnant and facing ruin in her small village. The town's minister offers her a new life in Japan as his wife, where she is alone, lost, and unable to speak the language. The book then follows the Sunja's family through eight decades and four generations.

The TV adaptation of "Pachinko" will be written and produced by Soo Hugh, who will also serve as showrunner. Hugh has previously worked on "The Terror," "The Whispers," "Under the Dome," and "The Killing."

"Pachinko" is just one of more than a dozen original television shows Apple has in the works, several of which are based on novels.

It's not yet clear how Apple will distribute its TV shows, but the Cupertino company is rumored to be considering launching a new streaming video service that would perhaps be bundled with an Apple Music subscription and a digital magazine and news subscription.

Rumors have suggested the first of Apple's TV shows could debut in March 2019, and several of them are indeed in the casting phase and could begin filming in the near future.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Feature Cool

Apple Releases New iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and tvOS 27 Public Betas

Monday August 31, 2026 2:13 pm PDT by
Apple today released the sixth public betas of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate, allowing anyone with a compatible device to download and test the new software. The sixth betas come a week after Apple seeded the fifth betas and a few hours after the eighth developer betas. You can get started by signing up on Apple's beta website and then opting in to the public beta by...
Apple TV Color

Apple TV Buys an Existing Hit for the First Time Ever

Friday August 28, 2026 8:52 am PDT by
Apple TV has bought the worldwide rights to "Small Prophets," breaking with how it normally operates in acquiring an existing English-language hit rather than commissioning a show of its own from the start. Apple TV has typically developed or, at the very least, commissioned shows in-house and given them their premiere on the service, regardless of where they may eventually end up. This...
apple tv 4k yellow bg feature

Next Apple TV Rumored to Have Five New Features, Including Siri AI

Wednesday August 19, 2026 7:43 am PDT by
According to rumors, the next-generation Apple TV 4K will have at least five new features, including an A17 Pro chip or newer, increased RAM, Siri AI support, an Apple-designed N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, and an updated Siri Remote. Below, we recap everything rumored for the next Apple TV, along with potential launch timing. Rumored Features A17 Pro Chip or Newer The next Apple TV wi...

Top Rated Comments

Kaibelf Avatar
106 months ago
What's the point? Sort your hardware out.
This line of thinking brought to you by the Packard Bell School of Business and the Steve Ballmer Foundation.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
106 months ago
Apple should probably stick with updating it's aging hardware platform. What's with these weird ass tv shows and Apple? Carpool Karaoke .. need I say more? It's like Disney saying they're going to make a horror film. They can't. It's Disney!

Either do it all in and stop piece meal BS or don't do it at all.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1applerules1 Avatar
106 months ago
That sounds extremely lame
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rafark Avatar
106 months ago
Doesn't seem to be a very bright future for Apple in the streaming industry with dull titles like this one and the others rumored.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TimmeyCook Avatar
106 months ago
Keeping it safe for the global audience.

Sucks.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
106 months ago
I like these kinds of stories and hope they see the light of day
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)