Filmmaker Derek Tsang, recognized for directing episodes of Netflix's sci-fi drama 3 Body Problem and his Oscar-nominated feature Better Days, has signed on to direct and executive produce a new true-crime drama series titled Group 41. The 10-episode project, featuring 45-minute episodes, focuses on the inception of the first Asian-American unit within the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Produced by Jonah Greenberg’s Salty Pictures, the upcoming series was presented at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest in Taipei.
Set in New York in 1986, the series opens at a time when federal authorities were heavily focused on South American cocaine syndicates and the Italian Mafia's traditional families. Operating under the radar, a dedicated group of Asian-American federal agents teamed up with a tenacious Irish prosecutor nicknamed "The Dragon Lady." Together, they formed DEA Group 41, creating the first law enforcement unit dedicated to dismantling the complex international networks smuggling high-purity No. 4 heroin into the United States.
Over the course of a decade, the underfunded unit transformed into an elite international task force. Their investigation brought them into conflict with major global crime bosses, including Hong Kong triad leader Johnny Kon, Chinatown figure Johnny "Onionhead" Eng, and Golden Triangle warlord Khun Sa. Beyond the procedural investigation, the narrative examines themes of immigration, systemic prejudice, and the personal cost of pursuit. Readers interested in expanding their entertainment updates can visit our movie news hub.
The series draws from an upcoming 180-page non-fiction book authored by Greenberg alongside Marc Iserlis and Aidan Swift, who are also onboard as writers and producers. Developed over seven years with input from the actual figures involved, the project is partnering with Taiwan’s Each Other Films and executive producer Adam Berkowitz. The production team is currently finalizing regional incentives and sourcing a showrunner before pitching the package to global streaming platforms next year.
