Prime Video’s Butterfly follows David Jung (Daniel Dae Kim), a former U.S. intelligence operative whose carefully constructed civilian life shatters when a shadowy figure from his past resurfaces. Years after leaving the agency, David has built a quiet existence as a university professor—until a cryptic message drags him back into the dangerous world he thought he’d escaped. As he races to uncover the truth behind a conspiracy that spans continents, David must confront the moral compromises of his past while protecting those he loves from becoming collateral damage.

Blending the taut suspense of Jason Bourne with the emotional depth of The Americans, Butterfly explores the lingering scars of covert warfare and the price of atonement. From explosive hand-to-hand combat to tense psychological mind games, the series delivers relentless action while never losing sight of its protagonist’s humanity. As David peels back layers of deception, he discovers that the greatest threat may come from within his own government—forcing him to choose between loyalty and justice.

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Butterfly cast with photos

1: Daniel Dae Kim as David Jung

Daniel Dae Kim (Lost, The Good Doctor) delivers a career-defining performance as David Jung, a man caught between the ruthless pragmatism of his past and the moral awakening of his present. Kim brings remarkable physicality to the role, performing many of his own stunts in brutal, close-quarters fight sequences that showcase David’s lethal training. But it’s in the quiet moments—a hesitation before pulling the trigger, a fleeting expression of regret—that Kim truly shines, revealing the soul of a soldier haunted by the lives he’s taken.

David’s journey is one of painful self-reckoning, particularly when he’s forced to work with Reina Hardesty’s Rebecca, a rookie agent who mirrors his younger, more idealistic self. Kim’s chemistry with the ensemble cast—especially Piper Perabo’s enigmatic Juno—adds layers of tension and unexpected warmth. A standout episode, told entirely in flashback, explores David’s final mission as an operative, with Kim masterfully portraying the character’s transformation from company man to disillusioned fugitive.

2: Reina Hardesty as Rebecca

Reina Hardesty (The Rookie, Brockmire) bursts onto the scene as Rebecca, a whip-smart but inexperienced field analyst thrust into David’s orbit. Hardesty perfectly captures Rebecca’s blend of eagerness and naivete, her textbook knowledge of espionage clashing with the brutal realities of the job. The actress brings palpable energy to action sequences, particularly a thrilling chase through Istanbul where Rebecca must improvise to survive.

Her dynamic with Kim forms the emotional core of the series, evolving from mutual distrust to a mentor-protégé bond fraught with unspoken paternal echoes. Hardesty’s most powerful moment comes when Rebecca confronts David about a lie that nearly got her killed—her tearful rage revealing how deeply she’d come to believe in him.

3: Louis Landau as Oliver Barnes / Oliver

Louis Landau (The Diplomat, Jack Ryan) is chilling as Oliver Barnes, the sociopathic mastermind pulling strings from the shadows. Landau’s Oliver speaks in measured tones and polite smiles, making his sudden eruptions of violence all the more terrifying. The actor based his performance on real-life intelligence handlers, crafting a villain who views people as disposable assets.

A flashback episode reveals Oliver’s twisted father-son dynamic with a younger David, adding disturbing context to their cat-and-mouse game. Landau’s most unsettling scene sees him calmly eating dinner while ordering an assassination over the phone, his monotone delivery making the moment skin-crawling.

4: Piper Perabo as Juno

Piper Perabo (Covert Affairs, Yellowstone) returns to spy thriller territory as Juno, a former colleague of David’s with ambiguous loyalties. Perabo plays Juno with smoldering intensity and razor-sharp wit, keeping both David and the audience guessing about her true agenda. Her fight scenes—particularly a brutal bathroom brawl—showcase the actress’s underrated physicality.

The history between Juno and David simmers with unresolved romantic tension and professional betrayal, culminating in a heartbreaking confrontation where Perabo’s eyes convey more than pages of dialogue ever could.

5: Kim Tae-hee as Eunju Kim

Kim Tae-hee (Hi Bye, Mama!, Yong-pal) brings grace and steel to Eunju Kim, a high-ranking South Korean official drawn into David’s conspiracy. Kim’s performance is a masterclass in controlled power, her character wielding political influence with elegant precision. A scene where she verbally eviscerates an opponent without raising her voice demonstrates the actress’s commanding presence.

Her unexpected alliance with David—rooted in their shared Korean heritage—adds rich cultural layers to the story. Kim’s most poignant moment comes when she reveals how the Cold War tore her own family apart, drawing parallels to David’s fractured identity.

6: Sean Dulake as Hollis

Sean Dulake (Pachinko, The Recruit) is magnetic as Hollis, a morally flexible tech genius who becomes David’s unlikely ally. Dulake infuses the role with chaotic charm and vulnerability, his Hollis oscillating between comic relief and tragic figure. The actor’s background in dance informs his character’s restless physicality—always fidgeting, always calculating.

A standout episode explores Hollis’s backstory as a hacker activist turned corporate pawn, with Dulake delivering a monologue about Silicon Valley corruption that crackles with righteous fury. His chemistry with Seoyeon Jang’s Moon provides much-needed levity amidst the tension.

7: Seoyeon Jang as Moon

Seoyeon Jang (The Silent Sea, Hellbound) shines as Moon, a North Korean defector with lethal skills and a dark sense of humor. Jang’s performance is all quiet intensity and sudden violence, her Moon speaking sparingly but conveying volumes through action. The actress trained extensively in Krav Maga for the role, lending authenticity to her blistering fight scenes.

Moon’s gradual trust in David forms one of the series’ most touching arcs, culminating in a wordless sacrifice that Jang makes devastating through sheer physical acting.

8: Charles Parnell as Senator George Dawson

Charles Parnell (Top Gun: Maverick, The Last Ship) exudes gravitas and menace as Senator Dawson, a political powerhouse with ties to the intelligence underworld. Parnell’s Dawson delivers folksy charm in public and icy threats in private, his shifting demeanor keeping everyone off-balance.

A Senate hearing scene—where Dawson systematically destroys a whistleblower—showcases Parnell’s ability to wield power through silence and implication rather than overt villainy.

9: Kim Ji-hoon as Gun

Kim Ji-hoon (Flower of Evil, The Devil Judge) is terrifying as Gun, Oliver’s primary enforcer. Kim moves with predatory stillness, making Gun’s sudden explosions of violence land like hammer blows. The actor studied big cats to develop his character’s lethal patience.

A flashback reveals Gun’s origins as a North Korean child soldier, adding tragic dimensions to his brutality. Kim’s final showdown with David—a knife fight in a collapsing warehouse—is one of the series’ most visceral sequences.

10: Sung Dong-il as Dootae Kim

Veteran actor Sung Dong-il (Reply 1988, The Outlaws) brings world-weary wisdom to Dootae Kim, Eunju’s uncle and a legendary spymaster. Sung’s performance is a masterclass in subtlety, his character dispensing cryptic advice while playing his own long game.

His mentorship of David—seen in poignant flashbacks—adds emotional weight to their present-day reunion, where Sung conveys decades of regret in a single glance.

11: Lee Il-hwa as Eve

Lee Il-hwa (Reply 1997, Hospital Playlist) delivers a heartbreaking turn as Eve, a former informant living in hiding. Lee’s performance is fragile yet fierce, her character’s trauma etched in every hesitant movement.

A late-series revelation about Eve’s connection to David lands like a gut punch, thanks to Lee’s raw, unfiltered emotionality in the scene.