Korean Epic The Remarried Empress Opens to Disney's Biggest Local Premiere
Disney says The Remarried Empress, a Korean romantic epic, has become the most-viewed local original premiere of all time on Disney+ and Hulu worldwide. In a corporate announcement, the company made the claim without releasing a viewing number. A "local original" is a series made for a platform in the language of the country where it was produced.
The show launched on Nov. 3 with four episodes. Disney had first set the premiere for Nov. 4, and an earlier announcement said it would arrive a day early. Disney's own count of its first three days of availability is the basis for the record claim, according to The Hollywood Reporter. That outlet also reported the series as the biggest Korean title premiere to date in more than 50 markets, including the United States, Britain, France, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
The series also passed Moving as Disney's biggest local-original premiere, the same report said. Disney did not disclose viewing figures for the premiere.
The story has a long run-up. Disney said the trailer drew 13 million views across YouTube and social media in its first 48 hours. The show is based on a Naver webtoon, a comic series read on Naver's platform, which has amassed nearly 3 billion views. Yeoh Geena and Hyun Choongyeol adapted it for the screen, and Cho Suwon directed. The cast includes Shin Mina, Ju Jihoon, Lee Jongsuk and Lee Seyoung. Before launch, the series held sold-out preview screenings at the Busan International Film Festival.
Viewers who want the rest of the season will have to wait a little. Two new episodes arrive every Wednesday from Nov. 11, and the finale is set for Nov. 25. Disney's November lineup, published in October, listed the show as a Hulu Original with a four-episode premiere.
For the wider business, the number to watch is the one Disney has not shared. A record claim without a published figure leaves room for later data, and the company has not said when, or whether, it will release one.
