The new Korean drama series, The Remarried Empress, is already breaking records.
Deadline reports that just three days after launching on Disney+, the series became the platform's most-viewed local original premiere ever. The show also "ranks as the No. 1 Korean title premiere in over 50 global markets, including the U.S., the UK, France, Canada, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand."
The trailer generated 13 million views in the first 48 hours across YouTube and other social media platforms.
Directed by Cho Suwon, The Remarried Empress follows the relationship between the smart, elegant Empress Navier Ellie Trovi and Emperor Sovieshu Vict, whom she has known since childhood. Together, the couple rules the Eastern Empire, but their relationship becomes strained when Sovieshu brings a runaway slave into their home as his mistress. Seeking companionship, Empress Navier turns to rival Crown Prince Heinrey Alles Lazlo.
As the two fall for one another, Empress Navier decides to accept Emperor Sovieshu's new relationship. But only if he allows her to remarry Heinrey.
The series stars Shin Min Ah (Hometown Cha Cha) as Empress Navier, Ju Ji Hoon (The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call) as Emperor Sovieshu, Lee Jong Suk (I Can Hear Your Voice) as Heinrey, Lee Se Young (The Red Sleeve) as Rashta Isqua, and Choi Dae Hoon (When Life Gives You Tangerines) as Lord McKenna.
The first four episodes are streaming now on Disney+ and Hulu. Two episodes will air every week until the show's season finale on November 25.
The Remarried Empress is one of the projects born out of a partnership between Studio N (a subsidiary of Webtoon Entertainment) and streaming giants like Disney+ and Netflix.
Studio N's CEO, Kwon (Michelle) Mikyung, told Deadline that the series is one of their most ambitious projects yet, noting, “This project will define my life. I have a lot of anxiety and expectations at the same time right now.” Some of that anxiety came from the pressure of adapting an immensely popular Webtoon.
Variety reports that the source material for The Remarried Empress racked up over 3 billion views on Webtoon. This is unsurprising, given that popular "Romantasy" fiction has become a highly sought-after IP for content development at major studios like Kwon's. For example, Amazon MGM Studios and Michael B. Jordan's production company, Outlier Society, are developing a live-action adaptation of the popular Romantasy book series, The Fourth Wing.
Similarly, Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone, which follows magic wielders from a fictional West African country, has been adapted into a film set for release in 2027.
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