Director Midi Z has said his forthcoming film “The Exiles”, starring Sam Worthington, David Duchovny and Ke-Xi Wu, is partly inspired by Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”. The U.S.-Taiwan production will tell an original contemporary story rather than directly adapting the novel, continuing Midi Z’s longstanding focus on migration, identity and displacement.

The film was also inspired by a real criminal case in Southeast Asia, although further details were not disclosed. It was filmed entirely in Taiwan, with about 90% of its dialogue in English, and has entered early post-production; Midi Z hopes to release it in 2027. He discussed the project while serving on the jury at the Malaysia International Film Festival.