ⓒCourtesy of Amazon

Hulu, the streaming home of FX’s Emmy-winning series “Shōgun“, is preparing to adapt another Westerner’s journey to Japan into a drama for the 21st century. The project, titled “Gaijin” – a term for outsider or foreigner in Japanese – originates from “Shōgun“, a production company co-executed by Shannon Goss. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is executive producing it, with the intention for him to star. Lionsgate Television serves as the production studio

Drawing inspiration from Ivan Orkin’s real-life tale that sparked Ivan Ramen, Gaijin tells the story of an American culinary school dropout who, with his young son, unexpectedly relocates to Tokyo after his wife’s passing. desperately trying to stay connected to his wife’s homeland, Ivan (Gordon-Levitt) commits himself fully to life in Japan. He moved in with his in-laws, people he barely knew and barely liked, and took action on a long-held dream of opening his own restaurant – specifically, a ramen shop.

Facing hardships, cultural discrepancies, and humorous misunderstandings that arose during the series, Ivan will undertake the monumental challenge of establishing a business and revitalizing a life. Chef Orkin gained fame by opening successful ramen establishments in Tokyo, Japan, before launching Ivan Ramen in his home city and London, and appearing on Season 3 of Netflix’s “Chef’s Table.”

Goss and Orkin executive produce alongside Gordon-Levitt and Jared Geller via Hit Record and Nickel City Pictures’ Mark Fasano, Matthew Goldberg, Mike Blutstein and Andrew Gottlieb.

Goss is a writer/co-executive producer for the series “Shōgun“, earning an Emmy award for Outstanding Drama Series for Season 1. She has recently co-executive produced AMC’s The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.

Gordon-Levitt has scripts for two films; the first, titled “Pendulum,” is set for Vertical and stars him alongside Phoebe Dynevor, Jacki Weaver, and Norman Reedus, while the second, an AI thriller for Netflix, has him co-writing and directing, with the cast including Rachel McAdams, Jeff Daniels, Joel Edgerton, Caleb McLaughlin, and Alfre Woodard.