Mediacorp is taking Singapore television into darker territory with The Leftovers, an ambitious dystopian crime thriller featuring Cheryl Chou, Zhang Zetong and Jeremy Chan. Set on a fictional island devastated by a volcanic eruption, the series explores a frightening future where environmental pollution causes widespread organ failure, desperate families struggle to survive and an illegal organ-trafficking network turns human lives into valuable commodities.
The production is also a major step for Mediacorp’s international ambitions. Netflix has acquired the series ahead of its local free-to-air premiere, giving the Singapore drama a regional streaming launch and an opportunity to reach audiences beyond its home market.
The first season is scheduled to premiere on Netflix and mewatch Prime on November 9, 2026, before arriving on Mediacorp’s Channel 8 and mewatch from November 16. Mediacorp+2
Cheryl Chou Plays a Doctor Caught in a Dangerous Organ-Trafficking Crisis
Cheryl Chou takes on the role of Ren Xin, a doctor whose seemingly cold exterior conceals a compassionate side.
Her character becomes entangled in the growing crisis after her younger sister, Li Yina, is kidnapped. As the investigation develops, Ren Xin turns to her friend Gao Shang, a police officer played by James Seah, for help in locating the missing victims.
The storyline places Chou’s character at the centre of a dangerous network involving organ trafficking, illegal research and powerful individuals willing to exploit vulnerable people.
The role also adds another major production to Chou’s growing television portfolio. She previously appeared alongside Zhang Zetong in Perfectly Imperfect, and their repeated collaborations have attracted public attention.
Chou and Zhang also hosted the 2026 Star Awards together with veteran presenter Guo Liang. When asked about speculation that she and Zhang were dating, Chou laughed off the rumours, explaining that they had been working together frequently since late 2024.
She joked that audiences would continue seeing them paired together because The Leftovers is a three-season project extending into 2027. Her comments did not confirm a romantic relationship. CNA Lifestyle+2
Zhang Zetong Becomes an Underground Boxer Fighting to Save His Mother
Zhang Zetong plays Lin Zhekang, a young man struggling to survive in the impoverished underground community of Equaland.
His mother, Lin Aiqin, played by Jesseca Liu, suffers from silicosis after the fictional island is devastated by environmental pollution following a volcanic eruption.
With his mother needing a lung transplant, Zhekang turns to illegal boxing matches to earn money. His desperate attempt to save her eventually draws him into a criminal underworld where gangs, illegal betting and organ trafficking operate.
Zhang told AsiaOne that the unusual setting was one of the reasons he accepted the role. He was attracted to the scale of the story and the opportunity to explore a type of character rarely seen in conventional Mediacorp family dramas.
Preparing for the role required more than studying the script. Zhang watched documentaries about people living in impoverished communities and survivors of volcanic disasters to better understand how people adapt to difficult environments.
He also received Muay Thai training from SEA Games 2025 fighter Terrence Teo, who appears as his opponent in the drama. Zhang attended two technique-focused lessons, each lasting approximately three hours.
His preparation helped him approach Zhekang as more than a desperate young man. He wanted to portray someone who could retain hope, humour and close family relationships despite living in a dangerous environment. AsiaOne+1
Jeremy Chan Plays a Driver Connected to the Criminal Underworld
Jeremy Chan portrays Zhang San, a driver working for the organ-trafficking syndicate known as Straits Hall.
His character becomes an important link in the unfolding investigation after Zhekang helps him defend himself during an attempted robbery.
The encounter leads to a much bigger crisis when Ren Xin’s younger sister is kidnapped. Zhekang attempts to intervene but is attacked, drawing him further into the syndicate’s activities.
Jeremy’s character is not simply a background figure in the criminal network. His connection to the organisation becomes important to the efforts of Ren Xin and Gao Shang to locate the missing victims.
In an earlier AsiaOne interview, Jeremy described how realistic the production environment felt. The actor said the underground city set was so immersive that he could imagine himself actually living in the fictional world.
The set featured rundown streets, shophouses, marketplaces and other details designed to make Equaland feel like a functioning but deteriorating society.
Jeremy also joked about the physical realism of the production, particularly the smoke and artificial volcanic ash used to create the atmosphere. AsiaOne+1
A Dark Future Where Human Organs Become a Black-Market Commodity
At the heart of The Leftovers is a disturbing premise: a volcanic eruption leaves the fictional island of Equaland severely polluted, causing widespread organ failure among its population.
As demand for transplants rises, the shortage of available organs creates an illegal market.
Criminal groups begin kidnapping people and trafficking their organs, turning a public-health disaster into an opportunity for organised crime.
One of the syndicates profiting from the crisis is Straits Hall, which becomes central to the story.
The series also explores the controversial work of Xiao Wenze, played by veteran actor Li Nanxing. A disgraced doctor and researcher, Wenze is determined to advance his experiments involving artificial human wombs and lab-grown organs.
He wants to recover a crucial research sample known as Zeta, which could help rebuild his career. His former research assistant, Lin Aiqin, becomes important to that effort.
The storyline raises difficult questions about medical ethics, scientific ambition, human exploitation and the value of life in a society where survival increasingly depends on access to scarce resources.
Mediacorp describes the production as a dystopian crime thriller, with the first instalment forming part of a three-season story. Content Distribution+2
Li Nanxing and Jesseca Liu Anchor the Series With an Emotional Family Story
Although the drama features crime, science fiction and large-scale action, its emotional centre is the relationship between Zhekang and his mother.
Jesseca Liu plays Lin Aiqin, a former research assistant suffering from silicosis who is desperate to protect her son from the dangers surrounding them.
Her character’s connection to Wenze’s research places her in an increasingly difficult position. She eventually agrees to hand over the remaining research sample on the condition that Wenze keeps Zhekang safe.
Li Nanxing plays Wenze, a complex antagonist whose scientific ambitions are driven by his desire to recover his reputation and continue his research.
In an interview with The Straits Times, Li described the role as particularly challenging because his character appears across different ages and story periods. The three-season production also required him to move between different versions of the character while filming out of chronological order.
Liu, meanwhile, said she initially considered turning down her role because she was concerned about repeating the familiar character of a suffering mother. After discussing Aiqin’s personality and motivations with the production team, she became interested in portraying a more complicated character with flaws and vulnerabilities.
The two actors’ performances are expected to provide an emotional counterbalance to the series’ darker criminal storyline. The Straits Times+2
Desmond Tan, Zoe Tay and a Large Ensemble Cast Add More Intrigue
The series also features a substantial supporting cast, including Desmond Tan, Zoe Tay, James Seah, Chen Liping, Bryan Wong, Shane Pow, Zhu Zeliang and Yunis Toh.
Desmond Tan plays Guo Longjing, a former police officer who eventually becomes involved in the criminal underworld.
His character begins as a righteous officer committed to helping people but gradually turns towards the darker side after becoming disillusioned with the corrupt environment around him.
In an earlier interview with AsiaOne, Tan explained that he enjoyed returning to villainous roles because they allowed him to explore a different side of his acting.
Zoe Tay also appears in the production, while Chen Liping revealed that she suffered two fractured ribs after filming a physical scene in 2025. She initially mistook the pain for a muscle strain and only discovered the fractures after undergoing an MRI scan about a month later. She has since said she has recovered.
These behind-the-scenes experiences illustrate the physical demands of the production, which combines action sequences, elaborate sets and a large ensemble of performers. AsiaOne+2
Mediacorp Builds an Underground City for Its Most Ambitious Dystopian Drama
One of the production’s biggest attractions is its elaborate fictional setting.
Filming took place across Singapore and Malaysia, including Iskandar Studios in Johor. The production team constructed an extensive underground city designed to represent the impoverished side of Equaland.
The set included a playground, a noodle shop, a town hall, market stalls and other everyday locations. It also featured artificial smoke, ash-covered streets and rundown buildings to create the atmosphere of a community struggling to survive after an environmental catastrophe.
Jeremy Chan previously described the environment as so realistic that it helped him get into character almost immediately.
The series also uses virtual production technology to create its futuristic world. Mediacorp has described it as its most ambitious use of virtual production to date, allowing the production to build a more visually immersive setting.
The three-season format is another major undertaking. Each season will contain eight episodes, with the first season establishing the characters, criminal networks and scientific developments that drive the larger story. AsiaOne+2
Netflix Acquires The Leftovers Ahead of Its Singapore Television Premiere
The series is also a major commercial milestone for Mediacorp.
On March 30, 2026, Mediacorp announced its largest pre-sale deal to date with Netflix, which acquired three premium local drama titles before their free-to-air premieres.
The titles include The Leftovers, Chilli Crab Flower Club and Durrani – Perjuangan Lion Mum.
The deal covers several Southeast Asian markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste.
For The Leftovers, the streaming release is scheduled for November 9, ahead of its local broadcast debut on November 16.
The arrangement gives the production access to a wider regional audience and reflects Mediacorp’s efforts to develop Singapore-made content with international distribution potential.
It also places the drama in a competitive streaming environment where audiences are increasingly familiar with large-scale Korean, Japanese and international dystopian productions. Mediacorp+1
WWC ONE MEDIA has also covered the growing Singapore-Korea entertainment partnership in Pyo Ye-jin and Jo I-geon Spotted Filming New K-Drama in Singapore.
The growing regional interest in Singapore entertainment can also be seen in Taiwanese Star Austin Lin Returns to Singapore, Says He Wants to Slow Down and Recharge in 2027 After a Nonstop Year.
For another look at the local television industry’s changing creative ambitions, read Singapore Launches IMDA-TikTok Programme to Build Microdrama Production Skills.
And for more on the cast’s work beyond this production, WWC ONE MEDIA previously reported on Desmond Tan Gained Over 10kg for ‘Pace’ — But Getting His Six-Pack Back Was Only Half the Transformation.
The Leftovers Release Dates, Episodes and Where to Watch
For viewers planning to follow the series, the first season has the following release schedule:
- November 9, 2026: First season premieres on Netflix and mewatch Prime.
- November 16, 2026: Local free-to-air and streaming release begins on Mediacorp Channel 8 and mewatch.
- Weekday broadcast: Channel 8 and mewatch episodes are scheduled for 9pm.
- 2027: The second and third seasons are expected to follow.
The trilogy consists of three seasons, each with eight episodes of approximately 60 minutes. The series is primarily in Chinese. Mediacorp+2
Can The Leftovers Take Singapore Drama to a Bigger Regional Audience?
The Leftovers represents a significant creative gamble for Mediacorp.
Instead of relying on a conventional family drama or crime procedural, the broadcaster is combining dystopian science fiction, organised crime, medical ethics, action and emotional family storytelling.
Its fictional setting also gives the production room to explore subjects that connect with real-world concerns, including environmental disasters, unequal access to healthcare, organ trafficking and the ethical limits of scientific research.
The Netflix pre-sale provides an opportunity to reach viewers across Southeast Asia, but the series will ultimately need to deliver a compelling story and convincing performances to stand out.
With Cheryl Chou, Zhang Zetong and Jeremy Chan among its younger leading performers, alongside established stars such as Li Nanxing, Jesseca Liu and Zoe Tay, the production brings together different generations of Singapore entertainment talent.
The first season’s November 9 premiere will be the first major test of whether Mediacorp’s dystopian crime thriller can capture audiences beyond Singapore.
And with two more seasons planned for 2027, the story of Equaland is only beginning.
