The global streaming market continues to look toward South Korean television for high-budget speculative fiction. Disney+ has confirmed an official premiere date of 4 November 2026 for its ten-part fantasy romance The Remarried Empress, which will stream internationally on Disney+ and on Hulu in the United States.
Before arriving on home screens, the series will receive a world premiere at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, running from 6 to 15 October 2026. Festival organisers will screen the first three episodes, running a combined 151 minutes, as part of the prestige On Screen sidebar dedicated to high-profile broadcast series.
A Royal Divorce Sparks a Continental Rivalry
Adapted from the hit Naver Webtoon that has accumulated nearly three billion views worldwide, the series follows the political and domestic fallout within the Eastern Kingdom. Shin Min-a stars as Empress Navier, a respected monarch whose marriage fractures when her husband, Emperor Sovieshu, played by Ju Ji-hoon, falls in love with an escaped slave named Rashta, portrayed by Lee Se-young.
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When the Emperor demands a divorce to elevate Rashta to the throne, Navier agrees on one non-negotiable condition: Sovieshu must grant her permission to remarry Crown Prince Heinrey of the rival Western Kingdom, played by Lee Jong-suk.
This calculated move triggers a fierce power struggle between the two realms, set against lavish European locations, opulent palace architectures, and intricate court politics.
Experienced Hands Behind the Scenes
The project brings together several of South Korea’s most reliable television creators. Cho Su-won, whose directing portfolio includes popular titles such as Still 17 and Pinocchio, directs all ten episodes. Screenwriters Yeoh Geena and Hyun Choong-yeol, known for their work on The Uncanny Counter, handled the adaptation.
The four-lead ensemble features extensive award credentials. Shin Min-a leads the cast following her work in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha and No Gain No Love. Ju Ji-hoon brings substantial experience from Kingdom and Light Shop, while Lee Jong-suk and Lee Se-young return to historical and fantasy formats after leading Big Mouth and The Red Sleeve.
Disney+ will launch the production with a four-episode drop on 4 November 2026, followed by two new episodes every Wednesday through to the finale on 25 November 2026.
