‘The Remarried Empress’ Sets Disney+ Record As Most Viewed Local Original Launch Ever

Korean drama The Remarried Empress has become the most viewed local original premiere of all time on Disney+ globally, just three days after its launch on November 3.

The show currently ranks as the number one Korean title premiere in over 50 global markets including the U.S., UK, France, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Chile, Australia & New Zealand and Canada.

Originally scheduled to premiere on November 4, The Remarried Empress was bumped up a day early by Disney+ as a thank you to fans, due their strong support ahead of the launch. Buzz has been building around the show since the world premiere of its first few episodes at Busan International Film Festival.

The trailer drew 13 million views in the first 48 hours on YouTube and social media platforms, while the original webtoon the show is based on has 3 billion views. See Deadline’s interview with Studio N, the creators of the show, here.

The Remarried Empress follows the strained relationship between beloved Empress Navier and her husband Emperor Sovieshu of the Eastern Empire. With anxieties rising across the land, the couple’s relationship begins to fracture when the Emperor falls in love with a runaway slave. Unwilling to compromise her dignity, the Empress acquiesces to the Emperor’s request on one condition – that she be allowed to remarry rival Crown Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom.

Directed by Cho Suwon from an adaptation by Yeoh Geena and Hyun Choongyeol, the show stars Shin Mina (Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha) as Empress Navier, Ju Jihoon (The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call) as Emperor Sovieshu, Lee Jongsuk (Big Mouth) as Crown Prince Heinrey and Lee Seyoung (The Red Sleeve) as escaped slave Rashta.

Disney+ and Hulu have dropped the first four episodes with two new episodes available every Wednesday from November 11 through the series finale on November 25.