For the past ten years, Pachara “Peach” Marcel Chirathivat has established himself as a leading actor in the Thai film industry, having played the leading roles in SuckSeed and The Billionaire. Besides being one of the most well-known faces on TV, Pachara is a successful businessman who has worked outside the film world by pursuing entrepreneurial business ventures, notably in the music and FNB space. He notably launched the Filipino fries brand Potato Corner franchise in Thailand, which became successful with 70 branches nationwide.
As a man about town, Pachara continuously balances the many facets of his life with an open-minded outlook and grace. This time, he plays one of the leading roles in Wattanapong Wongwan’s debut Netflix series, The Believers.
The streaming giant has been pulling out all the stops to release a stunning show line-up on its platform by bringing a variety of incredible movies, series, and shows from around the world. It lent a hand in popularizing sub-genres such as Scandinavian film-noir and K-wave shows. This time, the spotlight turns to Southeast Asia, countries such as Thailand, Philippines, and Indonesia for making strides in the industry in films like HUNGER, Nocebo ( starring Filipina actress Chai Fonacier, Eva Green, and Mark Strong) and The Haunted Hotel.
For Pachara, the global launch of The Believers is an exciting opportunity for other sectors of Thai cinema to shine. “ There is so much more to Thai movies than rom-coms, horror, and action. The Believers is a clear representation of where the direction of the industry is going.” says the actor. The limited series soared to the top 1 spot one week after its global release, with the narrative focusing on the controversial trio of religion, finance, and society. The journey to the top for The Believers has been a five-year journey of meticulous research, script refinement, and artistic dedication.
The series examines the complex interplay between faith and finance within the context of Buddhism. As Thai society becomes more accepting of his doubts, Wattanapong can turn those into a thought-provoking narrative through finely crafted characters and storylines.
Peach, who plays Game, added, “Many might think that discussing religion is inappropriate, but I believe that as Buddhists, we have to ask these questions to help make things right.” Taking on this role is a shift that demonstrates his versatility as an actor. Citing actors Willem Dafoe and Jim Carrey as his role models, he hopes to find more opportunities acting in dark comedies and thrillers. “ I would love to do films similar to Gone Girl and Seven. There are plenty of ways to interpret those types of roles, and it would require going deep internally to create an in-depth performance that will captivate audiences.”
The Believers tells the tale of a group of young and ambitious entrepreneurs who, after a streak of failed startups, stumble upon an unorthodox “business opportunity” that could help them pay off substantial debt by capitalizing on people’s religious convictions.
The trio includes Win (James Teeradon Supapunpinyo), a young computer engineer dropout who leads the team in marketing planning; his best friend, Dear (Ally Achiraya Nitibhon), a graphic designer who also oversees PR; and Game (Peach Pachara Chirathivat), an adventurous teenager who brings funding to the table. Together, they rebrand the lone Phummaram Temple, transforming it into a lucrative source of income. The series also features memorable characters like Monk Dol (Pup Patchai Pakdeesusuk), Tang (Tik Channarong Khantheethao), and Monk Ekachai (Petch Paophet Charoensook).
Watch The Believers out now on Netflix.
