Disney+’s ‘The Remarried Empress’ to Premiere at Busan Ahead of Streaming Debut

Key points

• The 31st Busan International Film Festival will screen three episodes of The Remarried Empress in its On Screen section from October 6 to 15.
• Disney+ describes the series as its most expensive Korean drama production to date, featuring elaborate palace sets and filming across European locations.
• The series stars Shin Min-a, Ju Ji-hoon, Lee Jong-suk, and Lee Se-young, directed by Cho Su-won from scripts by Yeoh Geena and Hyun Choong-yeol.
• The Remarried Empress is based on a Naver webtoon that has accumulated nearly 3 billion views globally.
• The festival’s On Screen section also includes Netflix titles Dead-End Job and Blue Road, marking a competitive showcase for major streaming platforms.

Background

Disney+ has been expanding its international content slate, including recent announcements for Archie horror adaptations and Marvel films. The Remarried Empress represents a significant investment in the Korean drama market, a sector where Disney+ has increasingly competed with Netflix for high-profile talent and production budgets. Previous archive coverage noted Disney’s broader 2028-2029 release strategy, highlighting the company’s push for diverse content across genres and regions.

How outlets are covering it

The Hollywood Reporter emphasizes the production’s lavish scale, noting it is Disney’s most expensive Korean drama to date and highlighting the source material’s massive global viewership. Variety provides a broader context of the Busan festival’s lineup, positioning The Remarried Empress alongside Netflix’s Dead-End Job and Blue Road in the On Screen section, suggesting a direct competitive dynamic between the two streaming giants at the festival. Both outlets agree on the festival dates and the specific episodes being screened, but Variety focuses more on the festival’s overall Korean cinema slate, including Na Hong-Jin’s Hope, while The Hollywood Reporter focuses on the series’ production details and cast.

Why it matters

The Busan premiere signals Disney+’s serious commitment to the Korean drama market, a sector that has become a major driver of global streaming subscriptions. By securing a high-profile festival slot for its most expensive K-drama, Disney+ aims to generate buzz and critical attention ahead of its streaming launch, competing directly with Netflix’s similar strategy for its own Korean titles. The success of The Remarried Empress could influence future investment in high-budget international productions for Disney+.

What to watch

The series will screen at the Busan International Film Festival from October 6 to 15, 2026. Following the festival, the series is expected to launch on Disney+ and Hulu, though a specific streaming release date has not yet been announced. The festival’s Asian Contents & Film Market will also run from October 10 to 13, potentially offering further industry insights into the series’ distribution and marketing strategy.