YouTube Shorts creator Alan Chikin Chow is developing a scripted series for Netflix in partnership with HYBE AMERICA, the U.S. division of the Korean entertainment company behind BTS, according to an official announcement.

The untitled series follows a group of aspiring pop idol rejects at an arts academy who form a co-ed band. Artists starring alongside Chow will release original music concurrent with the series’ premiere.

Chow serves as executive producer alongside James Shin, President of Film and Television at HYBE AMERICA, and Jingu Jang, HYBE AMERICA AU President and former Vice President of BIGHIT Music.

“Our groundbreaking project brings together extraordinary creative talent across Netflix and HYBE AMERICA to launch a pioneering new franchise for the next generation,” Chow said in the announcement. “Together with world-class teams who consistently shape culture on a global scale, our mission is to set a new standard for storytelling: designed to inspire creativity, spark joy, and impart timeless life lessons for audiences worldwide.”

Creator Background

Chow operates the most-watched YouTube Shorts channel with 99 million subscribers, according to the announcement. His “Alan’s Universe” franchise generates approximately 1 billion views monthly across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. The high school anthology series targets audiences aged 7 to 14.

Before creating digital content, Chow appeared in television series including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “13 Reasons Why,” and “Into The Dark.” He signed with CAA in July 2024.

Chow opened a 10,000-square-foot production facility in Los Angeles in November 2024. The studio’s design draws inspiration from “Idol School,” a 2017 Korean reality competition show, and supports the production of long and short-form content across multiple platforms.

Platform Competition

The partnership represents Netflix’s continued effort to work with successful YouTube creators. According to Deadline, over the past year Netflix has partnered with YouTubers including Ms. Rachel, Mark Rober, and The Sidemen.

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan previously called Chow a “powerful symbol of the broader shift happening in the entertainment industry.”

Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos described YouTube as a platform for creators to “cut their teeth on” at a March 2025 Paley Media Council event, calling it “a little bit of a farm league.” Sarandos noted that YouTube doesn’t provide creators with upfront production funding.

HYBE AMERICA’s Shin described the project as a “culture-defining model for how pop groups are created,” stating the series aims to expand “audiences, possibilities, and how fandom is built from day one.”