Why Lee Jong-suk’s portrayal in “The Remarried Empress” is earning praise… The secret behind the costumes? Im Young-woong: “I commissioned them directly”

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Lee Jong-suk, who stars in Disney+’s original series “The Remarried Empress,” brought Heinrey from the source material to life on screen as a vibrant character by personally pitching ideas and investing meticulous effort in everything from his interpretation of the role to the costumes and props.

“The Remarried Empress” (screenplay by Yeo Ji-na and Hyeon Chung-yeol, directed by Jo Su-won) is a romantic fantasy epic in which “Nabie,” the perfect empress of the Dongdae Empire (played by Shin Min-a), is served with divorce papers by Emperor “Soviesh” (Joo Ji-hoon), who has fallen for the runaway slave “Rasta” (Lee Se-young). In response, she accepts the divorce but demands approval to remarry Prince “Heinrey” of the Seowang Kingdom (played by Lee Jong-suk).

The Heinrey portrayed by Lee Jong-suk did not rely solely on an aura of mystery; instead, he meticulously explored the emotional texture of the character, adding a human charm rooted in cuteness and tenderness. This interpretation was seamlessly woven into every aspect of his performance. From the way his gaze softened endlessly when looking at Nabie, to the playful yet affectionate tone of voice he used when with Mackenna (played by Choi Dae-hoon), and even his expressions that maintained the dignity of a prince while retaining an endearing quality. Lee Jong-suk’s delicate expression completed Heinrey not merely as a handsome prince, but as a character worth giving one’s heart to, captivating viewers instantly.

The effort to realize Heinrey extended to his visual presentation. To translate the image of the perfect prince imagined by fans of the source material into live action, Lee Jong-suk began rigorous self-management well before filming and also contributed ideas directly to the costume production. In particular, after seeing singer Im Young-woong’s stage costumes, he felt they would suit Heinrey and personally visited the company that made them to commission the creation of similar outfits for his character.

The attention to detail reached even a single prop. The blue rose Heinrey handed to Nabie during the Dongdae Empire’s New Year’s ball scene was an idea Lee Jong-suk proposed directly to the props team. He chose it because the flower language of the blue rose is “love that does not give up.” This scene, which fully captured Heinrey’s straightforward affection, heightened immersion to its peak, and when viewers who knew the flower’s meaning watched it again, the significance of the scene deepened further, adding an extra layer of interpretive enjoyment.

As a work that adapts the romance fantasy genre—still unfamiliar to domestic audiences—into live action, how the actors bring the characters from the source material to life is a key point of interest. Lee Jong-suk expressed Heinrey’s appearance while preserving the character’s distinctive physical traits, portraying his tenderness toward Nabie and his tendency not to easily reveal his inner thoughts. Having previously played Kang Cheol, the protagonist of a webtoon, in the drama “W,” Lee Jong-suk once again took on a role from a work with an existing source material. As a result, online communities have referred to him as being “of webtoon origin.”

It is known that Lee Jong-suk contributed opinions not only to his acting but also to detailed aspects such as costumes and props in order to express the character of Heinrey. Traces of his consideration for everything from the character’s appearance to emotional expression are evident throughout the work, and anticipation is building over how his relationship with Nabie will unfold going forward.

Meanwhile, Disney+’s original series “The Remarried Empress,” where viewers can meet Heinrey completed by Lee Jong-suk’s attention to detail, will be released on Disney+ in a total of 10 episodes, with two episodes airing every Wednesday. Episodes 5 and 6 will be released on the 11th.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original