Disney+ "The Remarried Empress" Fantasy Drama Sells Out at BIFF Screening

Disney+ has released the first stills from its upcoming original series "The Remarried Empress," offering a look at its four leads before the show's world premiere at this year's Busan International Film Festival. The images arrive as the drama draws strong early demand, with all festival screenings selling out on the first day of public ticketing.

General ticketing for the 31st Busan International Film Festival opened at 2 p.m. KST on Sept. 21, and every screening of "The Remarried Empress" sold out. The rush followed an equally fast sellout on Sept. 17 for the "Actors' House" session featuring stars Shin Min-a and Ju Ji-hoon.

"The Remarried Empress" is a fantasy romance centered on a royal breakup. Navier, the composed empress of the Eastern Empire, is served divorce papers by Emperor Sovieshu after he falls for Rashta, a runaway slave. Instead of resisting, Navier accepts the split on one condition: that she be allowed to remarry Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom. Shin Min-a plays Navier, Ju Ji-hoon plays Sovieshu, Lee Jong-suk plays Heinrey and Lee Se-young plays Rashta.

The series has been officially invited to the festival's "On Screen" section, which spotlights new episodic work, and will make its world premiere there. Director Cho Su-won will attend alongside the four leads for a GV talk and outdoor stage greetings with audiences in Busan.

The four newly released stills offer a first look at each character. Shin Min-a's Navier holds her poise as empress, but a flicker of unease crosses her face. Ju Ji-hoon's Sovieshu projects the weight of the throne through a stern gaze, hinting at how his feelings for Rashta will shake the palace.

Lee Jong-suk's Heinrey is caught mid-glance, his eyes fixed on someone off-frame. Lee Se-young's Rashta, the woman who captures the emperor's heart, brings a softer, brighter presence that contrast with the other three.

The drama follows how the four characters' choices become intertwined and reshape the empire's inner circle. Based on the hit Korean web novel and webtoon of the same name, "The Remarried Empress" premieres on Disney+ on Nov. 4, following its Busan debut.