Hit Toronto play 'Kim's Convenience' being adapted for both film and TV

Ins Choi, Jean Yoon, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Grace Lynn Kung star in Soulpepper's "Kim's Convenience." (THE CANADIAN PRESS/ho-Soulpepper Theatre Company-Cylla von Tiedemann)

TORONTO - The hit Toronto play "Kim's Convenience" is being adapted for the big and small screens.

Thunderbird Films says both a feature film and a TV series based on Toronto playwright-actor Ins Choi's charming stage comedy-drama are in development.

Choi told The Canadian Press in July there was "some (TV) development happening" based on his story of a Korean-Canadian family and its convenience store, but he couldn't provide details.

Tuesday's announcement came as Thunderbird and Soulpepper Theatre Company revealed a multi-year development and production joint venture for TV, feature films and digital media.

"Kim's Convenience" features a fiery patriarch who is struggling with changes within his business, family and their Toronto community of Regent Park.

It was a smash when it debuted at the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival, winning the New Play Contest and the Patron's Pick award.