Hit play Kim's Convenience being adapted for film, TV

The hit Toronto play Kim's Convenience, currently on a Canadian tour, 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.

• Kim's Convenience drawing TV interest, Ins Choi says

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.

That led to a sold-out showcase and then a remount at the city's Soulpepper Theatre Company, followed by two Dora Award nominations and the Toronto Theatre Critics trophy for best new Canadian play.

Soulpepper is now touring Kim's Convenience through major cities in Canada.