The ‘Ghosts‘ universe has explored many versions of the same idea, but one scrapped concept still feels like a missed opportunity, especially for U.S. audiences.
A planned South Korean adaptation never made it to screen, yet its core idea sounds so fresh and character-driven that it almost feels tailor-made for an American spinoff of Ghosts.
The Korean Version Of ‘Ghosts’ Took A Completely Different Path
When ‘Ghosts‘ first aired on BBC One in 2019, it won our hearts with a house full of squabbling spirits and a living owner who suddenly gains the ability to see them after a near-death experience. The show ran until 2023 and proved easy to adapt across cultures. The most popular remake arrived in the U.S. on CBS, led by Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar as Samantha and Jay.
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Other countries followed with French, German, and Australian versions, while a Greek adaptation is also in the works. Speaking at the Seriencamp Conference, BBC Studios executive Charles Harrison discussed the versions of ‘Ghosts‘ that almost happened. He explained that the familiar storyline of a young couple buying a home together didn’t reflect the reality of young adults in South Korea.
Instead, the Korean adaptation planned to focus on three sisters. Harrison shared that one sister would be able to see ghosts, another would never have that ability, and the third would fall somewhere in between. He didn’t go into detail about why the project was eventually scrapped, though he hinted that cultural differences around spirituality and the supernatural played a role. Still, the idea itself felt bold.
Why ‘Ghosts’ Should Finally Take This Leap
The American version of ‘Ghosts‘ has already shown that Samantha isn’t unique. In season four’s episode. “Kyle,” viewers met Kyle Rosenblatt, who gained the same ghost-seeing ability after a strange roller-coaster near-death experience. While his role mainly brought tensions between Sam and Jay, it confirmed something important: anyone could potentially gain this power.
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That revelation makes the Korean sister concept feel like a natural next step rather than a stretch. If near-death experiences unlock the ability, then introducing siblings who interact with that gift in different ways feels organic within the show’s rules. It also fixes one of the U.S. version’s recurring issues. Jay’s inability to see ghosts has often limited storytelling, even when the show tries to create drama around it
With Ghosts already renewed for two more seasons, the franchise has earned the freedom to experiment. A U.S. spinoff inspired by the scrapped Korean version would let the show explore new ground without abandoning what fans love.
