The legendary webtoon ‘The Remarried Empress’, which recorded approximately 2.6 billion cumulative views worldwide(as of December 2024), is being reborn as a Disney+ original series.The work, which is confirmed to be released in 2026, is stimulating global fans by putting forward a group of ‘trusted treasures’ including Shin Min-a, Joo Ji-hoon, Lee Jong-suk, and Lee Se-young.

‘The Remarried Empress’ is a romantic fantasy epic drama about the perfect empress of the Eastern Empire, ‘Navié’, who receives a divorce notice from Emperor ‘Soviet’ and demands remarriage with the prince of the Western Kingdom, ‘Heinli’.The original work, which started as a web novel serial in 2018 and expanded into a webtoon, was translated into 10 languages, and caused a worldwide sensation, so expectations are high as to whether the drama will continue its popularity.


Shin Min-a plays the role of the empress ‘Navié’, who possesses both elegance and intelligence.She will portray an independent and strong-willed woman through Navié, who begins a new life after divorcing the emperor.Ju Ji-hoon plays the emperor ‘Soviet’.He is a monarch who holds absolute power and leads the conflict of the story by demanding a divorce from Navié.Lee Jong-suk plays the prince of the Western Kingdom, ‘Heinrich’.He is a mysterious and charming character who is expected to show a complex emotional line that gradually leans towards Navié.

Here, Lee Se-young plays the role of ‘Rasta’, a runaway slave who catches the emperor’s eye, and heralds a three-dimensional character with a mixture of innocence and ambition.In addition, actors with solid acting skills such as Lee Bong-ryun, Choi Dae-hoon, Park Ho-san, Jung Young-joo, and Nam Yoon-ho have joined the cast, raising expectations.


At the script reading held on May 13, the actors and production team gathered together and shared their passionate enthusiasm.Shin Min-a said, “I’m nervous because it’s a very beloved original work, but I also have high expectations,” and Joo Ji-hoon said, “I’m happy to be participating in such a powerful worldview, and I also feel a sense of responsibility.”

The production will be led by director Jo Soo-won, who has created delicate emotional lines in works such as “I Can Hear Your Voice” and “Pinocchio,” and the script will be written by writers Yeo Ji-na and Hyun Chung-yeol of “The Uncanny Counter.” The production will be done by Studio N, who has presented solid IPs such as “Retirement” and “Vigilante,” increasing the level of completion.

‘The Remarried Empress’ is expected to have a strong appeal not only to fans of the webtoon of the same name, but also to viewers thirsty for authentic romantic fantasy.It will be released worldwide through Disney+ in 2026.


Reporter Jang Eun- eunj@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.