An eight-episode thriller that’s in the works at Netflix is a first for the streaming service. The service announced plans today for “Bardo,” which will be its first Chinese language original series.

Described as “a jailbreak thriller with a karmic dimension,” the series, from Taiwan, will be released to all Netflix members around the world at the same time.

“Netflix is teaming up with award-winning production company IFA Media and writer/director Sam Quah on Bardo,” the company says in today’s announcement. “IFA Media recently produced the highly regarded Taiwanese series ‘The Teenage Psychic’ and Quah is a rising Taiwan-based writer-director whose short film ‘The Free Man’ was short-listed for an Oscar in 2015.”

Adds Erik Barmack, vice president of international original series at Netflix: “A supernatural premise, a production team that’s created regional hits, and an up and coming director who’s received international acclaim — all of this has Netflix excited about ‘Bardo.'”

“Bardo” executive producer Frank Smith adds: “Taiwan’s film and TV industry is full of amazing creativity and Sam’s a new Asian talent who is open to pushing the boundaries and trying new things but with a strong insight into local and regional themes. The combination of this range of skills from across the region and the chance to work with a global platform like Netflix that is producing amazing content we’d all love to create, made this a great partnership for IFA. The story itself is steeped in local realities and dilemmas but the approach, the script and the dramatic feel is something completely new.”