{
  "id": 1361529,
  "title": "5 American TV Dramas That Were Remakes Of Foreign Shows",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/5-american-tv-dramas-that-were-remakes-of-foreign-shows",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-16T21:12:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TVLine",
    "slug": "tvline",
    "url": "https://www.tvline.com/2225866/american-tv-dramas-remake-foreign-shows/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "American television has long embraced foreign inspiration, giving rise to numerous acclaimed drama series that reimagined stories from the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Israel, and beyond. Among these remakes, certain shows have managed to capture audiences' attention both critically and commercially, setting themselves apart from the rest.\n\nOne such example is ABC's \"High Potential,\" a crime drama-comedy that serves as a remake of the Franco-Belgian series \"HPI.\" Though the American version retains the core premise of a hyper-intelligent single mom solving crimes, it brings a fresh perspective with its main character's name change from Morgane Alvaro to Morgan Gillory. The show's popularity soared, earning it a place among ABC's most-watched series during its first two seasons and securing a 98% average score on Rotten Tomatoes.\n\nAnother prominent remake is AMC and Netflix's \"The Killing,\" initially inspired by the Danish drama \"Forbrydelsen.\" The American adaptation focuses on Detective Sarah Linden's investigations into murder mysteries, emphasizing interpersonal drama alongside the central crime. While both versions delve into the emotional complexities of their characters, critics generally praise the original Danish production more highly. Nevertheless, the American remake has managed to retain a dedicated fan base.\n\nPerhaps the most influential remake on this list is Netflix's \"House of Cards.\" Though often overlooked as a foreign-derived series, the American version draws from a four-episode BBC serial titled \"House of Cards\" that aired in 1990. The British adaptation centers on a political power struggle following the end of Margaret Thatcher's tenure as prime minister. Netflix's adaptation expands upon the original narrative, delving deeper into the morally gray world of political manipulation while maintaining the ruthless protagonist, Frank Underwood. Despite the scandal surrounding Kevin Spacey's behavior and a diminished sixth season, the U.S. series has etched its name in TV history as a groundbreaking drama.",
  "summary": "Good artists copy, but great artists steal - and some of the biggest dramas in streaming and network television have come to the U.S. from foreign shores.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}