The show is being positioned as a sophisticated exploration of wealth, power, and moral compromise—prestige television with international flair. SK Global and PCCW Media are framing it as the next Crazy Rich Asians-level cultural moment, complete with Asian representation at the forefront.
Insiders say the cast chemistry was reportedly volatile during filming, with sources close to production hinting at 'intense dynamics' behind the scenes. The Hong Kong entertainment scene has been watching this one closely—some wondering if it paints their elite circles in too brutal a light.
Trailer released exclusively by THR on May 14, 2026. All episodes premiere June 17, 2026 on Hulu. Created by NCIS: Hawai'i writer Yalun Tu, produced by SK Global (Crazy Rich Asians studio) and PCCW Media.
With a tagline like 'Every empire is built on lies,' The Season is clearly not pulling punches—and given the star power assembled here, this could be Hulu's most explosive drama of the summer. Buckle up.
The first trailer for Hulu's newest acquisition dropped Thursday morning, and it's serving exactly what scandal-hungry viewers want: yacht parties, horse races, glitzy soirees, and a vengeful newcomer promising to destroy an old-money dynasty. The Season is set in the "luxurious and cutthroat" world of Hong Kong's high society boating scene, following privileged friends whose glamorous summer escape spirals into deception, power struggles, and life-altering consequences. The series stars Jessie Mei Li as Cola—a mysterious newcomer to elite society with a hidden agenda.
In the trailer's most damning voiceover moment, Li's character declares she's going to take the Hext family down. The Hexts are painted as an old-money institution in Hong Kong, the kind of dynasty that doesn't take kindly to threats from outsiders. "Every empire is built on lies," reads the show's ominous tagline—and given what we see in this footage, they're not kidding.
The cast list alone reads like a Hollywood Foreign Press Association dream: Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Toby Stephens, three-time Golden Horse winner Karena Lam, Crazy Rich Asians' Chris Pang, Wolf Warrior 2's Celina Jade, The Brothers Sun's Justin Chien, Avatar: The Last Airbender's Yvonne Chapman, Japanese performer Kōki, and Physical 100's Lee Jae-yoon. Rounding out the ensemble are Hong Kong pop stars Anson Lo and Marf Yau—major names in Asian entertainment whose casting signals serious crossover ambitions.
Behind the camera, NCIS: Hawai'i writer Yalun Tu created and executive produced The Season, with Marialy Rivas directing and executive producing. Janice Lee and Agatha Lo executive produced for PCCW Media, while SK Global's Chloe Dan served alongside Matt Aragachi and Dylan Tarason. For those keeping score, that's the studio behind Crazy Rich Asians handling production—which means they know a thing or two about mining Asian wealth for Western audiences.
The show was originally announced in March at Hong Kong's Filmart content market before securing its U.S. home on Hulu. Beyond American streaming, The Season will also air on Now TV in Hong Kong and Viu across territories spanning Asia, the Middle East, and South Africa—all part of a coordinated global rollout strategy. All episodes drop exclusively in the United States on June 17.
Described as "White Lotus-esque" by critics already, this one has all the ingredients for summer watercooler talk: beautiful people doing ugly things, secrets lurking beneath champagne bubbles, and justice—perhaps poetic, perhaps brutal—waiting to be served. The question isn't whether drama will unfold aboard those yachts. It's whether anyone walks away clean.