GrX Studio, the production company behind the crime thriller films “Copycat Killer” and “The Victims’ Game,” is showcasing its latest projects at Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF). “The People I Killed and Those Who Killed Me” is a psychological crime drama planned for co-production between the United States and Taiwan.
The series, based on the novel of the same name by Akira Higashiyama, follows a Taiwanese psychiatrist who becomes involved in a 30-year serial murder case in the United States. Each corpse acts as a brutal message, forcing him to confront the past he desperately tried to forget.
“We were inspired by the way this novel captures the fragile beauty of childhood friendships and the painful contrast that comes with adulthood,” said producer Li Wen-yi and executive producer Zeng Han-sheng. “That was the starting point for our adaptation.”
The story revolves around Jason and Morris, two childhood friends who grew up in a dysfunctional family and vowed to be each other’s family. “They are twin flames, light and shadow, yin and yang, illuminating each other’s tragic lives,” the producers explain. “But an incident tears them apart and their fortunes are reversed.”
When the two meet again as adults, they find themselves on opposite sides of morality. While Jason works as a psychiatrist assisting the police, Morris has become a serial killer who challenges society’s definition of sanity. “The mystery of crime is no longer about who the culprit is, but how evil is created,” the producers point out. “Have we ever killed the kindness in the hearts of others in order to survive? Perhaps the real culprit is society itself.”
This project represents GrX Studio’s continued exploration of the crime thriller genre. “From ‘Copycat Killer’ to ‘The Victims’ Game,’ the GrX team has continued to explore and expand the possibilities of the crime thriller genre,” the producers said. “With What I Killed and What Killed Me, we aim to take that vision even further, deepening our psychological and moral exploration while pushing creative boundaries.”
The series begins with a murder in Los Angeles and unfolds from the perspective of a Taiwanese psychiatrist who lived in the United States for many years, looking back on his childhood in Taiwan. Filming is planned in both the United States and Taiwan, and the team is actively seeking international co-production partners at TCCF.
The timing of the project is intentional. “The world has changed rapidly in recent years,” the producers observe. “Anti-immigrant sentiment is on the rise in many countries, and people are starting to have deeper conversations about identity and immigration policy.” They point out that the original author, Akira Higashiyama, who was born in Taiwan and later immigrated to Japan, brings a unique perspective on how different cultures shape identity.
“The creative core of this series explores the interdependence of good and evil, like yin and yang, as a way to consider belonging and otherness,” say the producers. “The title itself suggests a mirror-like relationship, just as the relationship between investigator and suspect in a crime thriller often reflects two sides of the same coin.”
The script is currently 80% complete, and the writing team aims to have it completed by the end of the year. Pre-production is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026, with filming scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
The creative team includes executive producer Hank Tseng, known for his global perspective and keen market acumen in developing culturally rich, cross-border content; Producer Li Wen-Yi brings expertise in creating stories that explore human complexity and social structure. The writing team consists of John Chen, who specializes in social realism and crime genres rooted in Taiwanese culture; Chen Cheng-yu is a US-based senior screenwriter with experience in American television structure and writers’ room dynamics. Peng Huaide balances emotional depth and entertainment with his versatile storytelling. and Cheng Wen-ting, who completed his master’s degree in NTUA’s Radio and Television Department.
GrX Studio encompasses film and television production, talent management, IP development and business strategy, with a presence across Asian markets.
