Disney+ has greenlit “The Remarried Empress,” a live-action adaptation of the chart-topping Korean web novel and webtoon series that has amassed over 2.6 billion views to date.
The romantic fantasy drama will star Shin Min-a (“Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha,” “Karma”) as Empress Navier, alongside Ju Ji-hyun (“Light Shop,” “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call”) as Emperor Sovieshu of the Eastern Empire. Lee Jong-suk (“Big Mouth,” “W”) rounds out the main cast as Heinrey, the Crown Prince of the Western Kingdom harboring a hidden secret, while Lee Se-young (“The Red Sleeve,” “The Crowned Clown”) plays Rashta, the former runaway slave-turned-concubine with imperial ambitions.
Based on the popular webtoon of the same name, the series follows the story of Navier, a perfect empress whose world is turned upside down when her husband returns home with his mistress and demands a divorce. Rather than accept defeat, Navier agrees to the divorce but counters by asking to marry a rival prince of the Western Kingdom, setting off a tale of political intrigue, romance and a fight to reclaim stolen power.
The project will be adapted for streaming by Yeoh Geena and Hyun Choong-yeol, the duo behind “The Uncanny Counter,” with Cho Su-won (“Still 17,” “Pinocchio”) directing.
“The Remarried Empress” joins Disney+’s expanding slate of Korean originals. Earlier this month, the streamer renewed “A Shop For Killers” for a second season. Other Korean titles include “Nine Puzzles,” a dark criminal mystery starring Kim Da-mi and Son Suk-ku; “Low Life,” a treasure hunting series with Ryu Seung-ryong; and international conspiracy thriller “Tempest” featuring Jun Ji-hyun, Gang Dong-won, John Cho and Michael Gaston.
