Named one of TIME's 100 most influential people of 2025, Daniel Dae Kim stars and serves as executive producer in the upcoming series, "Butterfly." He joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss the show's high-stakes story.

Daniel Dae Kim, known for his work in 'Lost' and 'Hawaii 5-0,' is starring in and executive producing the upcoming series 'Butterfly.' The show is a spy thriller set in South Korea and centers on Kim's character, a former U.S. intelligence operative whose estranged daughter, now an assassin, reenters his life. 

Kim explained that the series is based on a graphic novel and was adapted to highlight both American and Korean cultures, reflecting his own heritage. The story was redeveloped to focus on the father-daughter relationship, and Kim emphasized the importance of authentic representation. The series also features action sequences, with Kim performing most of his own stunts, and explores themes of reconciliation and trust within families.

Daniel Dae Kim takes on espionage and family drama in 'Butterfly'

Actor Daniel Day Kim is known for his roles in the TV series Lost and Hawaii 5-0. Now he's the star and executive producer of the upcoming spy thriller series Butterfly. Kim plays a former U.S. intelligence operative whose past decisions come back to haunt him when he's reunited with his estranged daughter who is now an assassin. You still haven't put your gun down. Neither have you. I owe you answers, I know that. But right now we have to get out of here. I'm not going anywhere until you tell me. No, we have to leave. Tell me, tell me why you left when I was 14 years old. Tell me why you made me an orphan. How could you do that? How could you do that? Everything I did, I did to protect you. It is so good. First on CBS Mornings, Daniel Day Kim joins us now. Good morning. Welcome. Good to see you guys. Of course, good to see you. So Butterfly is based on the graphic novel series that was originally set in the U.S. and Europe, but this series is set in South Korea. Why is it important to tell stories about American and Korean culture in an important way for you? Well, mainly because it's a story that I'm uniquely suited to tell. Once they wanted me to be in front of the camera, I wanted to bring all of my lived experience authentically to a story that I could tell like this. And as a Korean American, I haven't seen many stories that actually bridge the culture of America and Korea the way a Korean American can. And so I took it as an opportunity to embrace both parts of my heritage and my life and tell this kind of unique story. But Daniel, what do you mean they wanted you to be in front of the camera? Because you took it to them and you asked them to change it, right? But you weren't pitching yourself necessarily, or were you? The original comic book centers on my daughter, and she's the lead character of the comic book. But as it went forward, and look at all the butterflies around. Yeah, isn't it cool? As it went forward, Amazon asked me if I would be a part of the show in front of the camera. And so we redeveloped it to a father-daughter story. And you said, okay, I'll do it. I did, because it's important to me to tell the story. It was originally, we were still going to make it an Asian American female, because I wanted to tell the story of a mixed race Asian American female. And now we shifted it to a two-hander, but still centering on Korea, which is a place where I've always wanted to shoot. Did it make you think about your own children as you were shooting it? Because he was an absent father in this movie. And I'm wondering, he would go a long time too, Daniel. He sure was. Did it make you think about your own children at all when you were shooting this? It did a lot. Because as a parent, I sometimes make mistakes, but with the best of intentions. I want to guide my kids, but the decision I think is right for them is exactly the wrong decision in their eyes. And this is the dynamic between David and Rebecca. He wants to protect her, as he said in that clip, but he didn't do it the right way, according to her, and left her with some trauma. And the question of the series is, can they reconcile? Can they trust again? Can they love again? That is a question. The whole movie, can they trust? But let me just also, for the fans to sort of set the scene, that you're also a spy who kicks a lot of ass. No doubt about it, Vlad. I mean, we're talking about love, and that's all good. It's very apparent from the beginning. You are a badass. Great, but you are a badass. And you did all your own stunts, from what I understand. I did everything that the insurance companies would let me do. Did you want to do stuff they didn't want you to do? I did. I wanted to do everything in the show, but there is one stunt they wouldn't let me do, and I'll let you watch and guess what that is. But I love doing action. I love doing stunts. I've done them since the beginning of my career, and they help ground me as an actor as well. They activate me. They put me into the moment for all of my acting scenes. So it really helps the process in general. You know, you have done so much in this industry. Your catalog runs deep. But you say that Lost is still one of the shows that you are most recognized for. I would definitely say that. And it's been 21 years, too. Can you imagine that? Yeah, I can't believe that. What does that series mean to you? It's rare anytime an actor gets to be a part of a show that's successful. But to be a part of a show that people remember 20 years after it premiered is really unique. And I'm really grateful I got to be a part of it. Daniel, we have like 20 seconds left, but you have a watch that was made famous by Bruce Lee. What's it mean for you to be the lead of a series like this when many people see Bruce as the first international action star? That's such a great question. It actually gives me goosebumps because, you know, we've been looking for our leading men for generations since Bruce Lee. And that's why he's such an icon to us. It's now you. Oh, Kim and Butterfly. And a birthday doesn't say happy birthday. Happy birthday.

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