HBO Asia launched a new original period drama titled Grisse on Wednesday.

Created by Mike Wiluan, the series is set in a small town in East Java called Grisse (now Gresik) in the mid-1800s. It chronicles the story of a group of unlikely individuals who lead a rebellion against a brutal governor of the Dutch East Indies and suddenly find themselves in control of the town.

The English-language series features a cast that includes Adinia Wirasti (Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?), Marthino Lio (Sayang You Can Dance), Alexandra Gottardo (Tanah Air), Jamie Aditya (Si Kabayan), Australian actor Michael Wahr, Japanese Toshiji Takeshima, Malaysian Joanne Kam and Singaporean Hossan Leong. The series was directed by Tony Tilse and Wiluan.

Earlier this year, action movie Buffalo Boys by Wiluan premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal on July 14. It was also screened at the New York Film Festival. He said that both Buffalo Boys and Grisse inhabited the same universe, as both were set in the same era.  

For the series, Wiluan spent six months studying literature on Gresik. “There was actually a Dutch base camp there, and when I read that characters started to pop out in my mind,” he said in a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Read also: HBO Asia to launch new original period drama series ‘Grisse’

Adinia Wirasti, or Asti, who played main character Kalia, said that she fell in love right away with the character. “She is a reluctant leader, has a fear of abandonment and a lot of pain. I saw that she could be developed over the course of the season,” she said.

Meanwhile, Lio said that he was honored to be able to share a scene with Asti. “I’ve been her biggest fan for a while now. So, thank you for this opportunity, Mike,” he said.

In a preview screening for members of the press on Wednesday, the series’ first episode showed a promising storyline and characters. Though shaky in the first few scenes, the following ones grew more intense and solid as main character Kalia is forced to make life-changing decisions in uncertain times.

Grisse will premiere on Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. on HBO, and new episodes will debut at the same time every Sunday. The series will also be streaming on HBO GO and will be available on HBO On Demand. (wng)