'The Remarried Empress' Lee Jong-suk Returns as the 'Romance Novel Prince'… Will He Continue the Myth of 'Fantasy Invincibility'?

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Actor Lee Jong-suk has completed preparations to once again carry on the box office legacy of the fantasy genre.

The Disney+ series "The Remarried Empress" (screenplay by Yeo Ji-na and Hyeon Chung-yeol, directed by Jo Su-won) is a romance fantasy epic in which Navi (played by Shin Min-a), the perfect empress of the Dongdae Empire, is notified of divorce by Emperor Sovieush (played by Joo Ji-hoon), who has fallen for the runaway slave Rasta (played by Lee Se-young). In response to this, she accepts the divorce but demands approval for a remarriage with Heinrey (played by Lee Jong-suk), the prince of the Western Kingdom.

Based on a webtoon that recorded approximately 2.97 billion cumulative global views and led a worldwide phenomenon, the series has drawn intense attention even before its release. In the drama, Lee Jong-suk plays Heinrey, the prince of the Western Kingdom and first in line to the throne, who attracts all eyes and is surrounded by rumors. He approaches Navi while concealing a secret.

The reason expectations are high for the Heinrey that Lee Jong-suk will portray lies in his unique box office track record in the fantasy genre. After causing a phenomenon as Park Soo-ha, a boy who can read others' minds, in the SBS drama "I Can Hear Your Voice," Lee Jong-suk won the Grand Prize at the 2016 MBC Drama Awards for playing Kang Cheol, the protagonist who moves between the world of a webtoon and reality, in the MBC drama "W (Double U)." This elevated him to the ranks of "Grand Prize-winning actors" in his 20s.

He subsequently led the SBS drama "While You Were Sleeping," in which he played prosecutor Jung Jae-chan who sees the future through dreams, to a hit. After winning his second Grand Prize at the 2022 MBC Drama Awards for "Big Mouth," building trust across genres without limitation, he has returned once again to the fantasy world.

In particular, Lee Jong-suk, who had brought the protagonist of the webtoon "W" into reality, adds significance this time by pulling the prince from a webtoon that captured the hearts of readers worldwide out onto the screen. His uniquely persuasive acting, which instantly makes audiences accept worlds and settings that do not exist in reality, is expected to lower the barrier for the romance fantasy genre, which is still unfamiliar to domestic viewers, and realistically realize the Heinrey that fans of the original work have imagined.

Lee Jong-suk also stated at a stage greeting event held earlier at the 31st Busan International Film Festival: "As Korean actors are presenting the romance fantasy genre, it may feel somewhat unfamiliar to viewers, but it will be all the more unique and interesting." He added, "The Heinrey I play is a character who holds a special secret, so please watch with much interest and affection." Director Jo Su-won, who is directing the series, said, "It was an aspect never shown anywhere before. He expressed the glances in each moment well," while screenwriter Yeo Ji-na stated, "He performed the role of Heinrey, who shows Navi a new world, very well with his own image," expressing confidence in the Heinrey completed by Lee Jong-suk.

Meanwhile, "The Remarried Empress" will release episodes 1 through 4 on November 4, and thereafter, two episodes per week will be released via Disney+ every Wednesday.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original