Shin Mina-led 'Remarried Empress' breaks Disney streaming records
The Korean drama outperformed its predecessors in over 50 markets during its first three days of release.
By Oliver Bennett ·
The Korean fantasy drama "The Remarried Empress" has become the most-viewed local original premiere in the history of Disney+ and Hulu. Disney announced Friday that the series set a new benchmark for the company's international programming. This record was established just three days after the show debuted.
The series premiered on Nov. 3 with four episodes. Disney stated that the title delivered the largest Korean premiere in more than 50 markets. These markets include the United States, Britain, France, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The company did not release specific viewing numbers. The record is based on total views during the first 72 hours of availability.
"The Remarried Empress" has replaced "Moving" as the streamer's biggest local-original launch. The 2023 superhero drama "Moving" was previously the most-watched Korean original on the platform. "Moving" was particularly popular in South Korea and across Asia. The current series has shown wider global appeal, with record-breaking performance in Europe and the Americas.
The plot follows Empress Navier, played by Shin Mina. Her marriage to Emperor Sovieshu, played by Ju Ji-hoon, unravels when he falls for Rashta, a runaway slave played by Lee Se-young. Navier agrees to a divorce if she can marry Heinrey, the crown prince of a neighboring kingdom, played by Lee Jung- Suk. The story centers on themes of love, dignity, and imperial power in a fantasy world of rival empires.
Yeoh Geena and Hyun Choong-yeol adapted the series for screen. Cho Su-won directed the production. The show is based on a Naver webtoon that has accumulated nearly 3 billion views. Disney noted that the series trailer generated 13 million views across YouTube and social media in its first 48 hours.
Disney moved the premiere date up by one day from the originally scheduled Nov. 4 launch. The company announced the change at a press conference in Seoul earlier this week as a gesture to fans. The series had previously held sold-out preview screenings at the Busan International Film Festival.
Two new episodes will air every Wednesday starting Nov. 11. The finale is scheduled to air on Nov. 25.
