Latest news with #Disney+'
Mint
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
‘Nine Puzzles' becomes Disney+'s most-watched Korean series of 2025 within 9 days after its global premiere
Disney+ has announced that its latest Korean drama 'Nine Puzzles' has become the platform's most-watched Korean series globally in 2025. The gripping crime thriller reached this milestone just nine days after its debut on May 21. Starring 'The Witch's Kim Dami as Yoon E-na, 'Nine Puzzles' follows the story of a young woman whose life was changed by a shocking murder. As a high school student, E-na discovered her uncle's lifeless body at home, with a strange puzzle piece lying next to him. With no memory of how she got there, and being the only witness, she quickly became the prime suspect. Ten years later, E-na has transformed into a skilled criminal profiler working for the Seoul Metropolitan Police. But the trauma of her uncle's unsolved case still haunts her. When a new string of murders emerges—each one marked by the same type of puzzle piece—E-na is pulled back into the past. She must now work alongside Detective Kim Han-saem, played by 'My Liberation Notes' Son Sukku, who originally led the investigation into her uncle's death and still quietly questions her innocence. Directed by Yoon Jongbin and written by Lee Eunmi, the show features a strong supporting cast including Kim Sungkyun and Hyun Bongsik. 'Nine Puzzles' joins a growing list of Korean titles on Disney+, such as 'Unmasked' and 'Hyper Knife'. Upcoming releases include 'Low Life', a treasure-hunting adventure starring Ryu Seungryong, and 'Tempest', an international thriller featuring Gang Dongwon and John Cho. Another K-drama that is all set to be streamed on Disney+ in the second half of the year is 'The Manipulated'. Starring Ji Changwook and Do Kyungsoo, the release date of this show is yet to be announced. The series has captivated audiences with its suspenseful plot, emotional depth, and standout performances—making it a standout hit in Disney+'s global line-up.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
David Tennant admits he wanted Marvel superhero role that went to Pedro Pascal
David Tennant has revealed he had 'his eye on' the role of Reed Richards in the Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four but it unfortunately went to Pedro Pascal instead. David Tennant has admitted that he had been eyeing up a superhole role that ended up being grabbed up by fellow actor Pedro Pascal. The Scots actor is best known for his role in Doctor Who with his most recent role coming as the villain Tony Baddingham in Disney+'s hit show Rivals. However, it's now emerged that the 54-year-old has been keen to take on a new character as he confessed he was interested in playing the role of Richard Reeds, aka Mister Fantastic, the leader of Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four. During an appearance at MCM Comic Con in London this weekend, Tennant said: 'In terms of superheroes, I don't know, I did slightly have my eye on Reed Richards, and unfortunately, it looks like they've gone in a different direction. 'Although if it has to be someone, I'm happy for it to be Pedro Pascal, frankly.' Tennant had been asked by a fan about which superhero or villain role he'd love to play, regardless of whether someone else had taken the part already. He replied: 'I would have quite liked to be Reed Richards. I'd quite like to be able to do all that,' he said, stretching his arm out to imitate the character's powers to stretch to extraordinary lengths. He continued: 'So I'll stick with that even though it's gone, even though it's gonna be a while before there's another go at that, I think, unfortunately. "I think Pedro Pascal is great. I'm very, very pleased that he exists.' Pascal, 50, is best known for his roles as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones, Javier Peña in Narcos, and most recently as Joel Miller in The Last of Us. He mentioned earlier that he felt he got 'the best' supervillain with the character of Kilgrave opposite Krysten Ritter in the Netflix show Jessica Jones. Marvels' Mister Fantastic, has been depicted in TV and film multiple times, including by Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd in the 2005 movie Fantastic Four and a 2007 sequel which made a combined $630m. The Reed Richards character is now set to appear in the forthcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films The Fantastic Four: First Steps, scheduled for release this year, in Avengers: Doomsday, out in 2026, and in Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). It was announced in February last year that Pedro Pascal had bagged the role of Reed Richards. He was cast along with The Crown's Vanessa Kirkby as Sue Storm, aka Invisible Woman, The Bear's Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, aka The Thing and Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, aka The Human Torch. Tennant has been back filming a new season of Disney+'s hit show Rivals, which is based on the best selling 1988 novel by Jilly Cooper as part of her Rutshire Chronicle series. The series, which boasts a star-studded cast, made its debut on the streaming platform in October 2024. Disney confirmed that shooting for the second season had commenced on May 21 with a series of behind-the-scenes snaps including Tennant and his co-stars Alex Hassell, Bella Maclean and Aidan Turner. Other big names in Rivals include Danny Dyer, Emily Atack, Katherine Parkinson and Luke Pasqualino.
AsiaOne
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Murder mystery pop-up inspired by K-drama Nine Puzzles lets you take a shot at playing detective , Entertainment News
When it comes to dealing with logic and puzzle-solving, I like to think I'm not the most proficient — evidenced by how I've never successfully completed those tricky escape-room missions. So when I got the invitation to go investigate a whole 'crime scene', I thought, "No way, the murder's going to go unsolved". But perhaps with teamwork, I might have a better shot at this 'detective' gig. Today (May 23), my colleague Jeng Jee and I visited the free Nine Puzzles: Decoded pop-up experience located at Plaza Singapura, before it opens to the public, to solve a string of riddles that follows an intriguing crime storyline. Inspired by Disney+'s new K-drama Nine Puzzles starring Kim Da-mi and Son Suk-ku, the 'investigation' begins when a 'murder' is discovered. Answer a series of questions and you'll receive the first puzzle piece. There are a total of nine zones where you'd have to scrutinise crime scene photos, look for clues, decipher codes and analyse the suspects. Walking to the pop-up, we were greeted by an ominous red curtain that leads into a dark room with a TV playing video clips of the drama Nine Puzzles. Jeng Jee and I were bathed in red light and could barely see each other, until we were handed nifty mini flashlights by the event crew. They also gave us a bulky case file each filled with papers of the puzzles we had to solve, along with a pen and puzzle frame. After solving each, we would be given a puzzle piece and there are eight to collect. Thereafter, we were on our own. In the zones, we were to complete tasks like spot the differences, memorise variables as fast as possible, match and organise cards, and shine UV torchlights on objects to look for fingerprints. Our observation and memory skills were really put to the test, forcing me and Jeng Jee to put our answers together to get through some of the puzzles. But what's a pop-up without a photo op? We were drawn to the section What Happens Next which was pretty crowded as it had a little TV set everyone was trying to peek at for clues and a dainty little chair to sit and take pictures on. Anyway, if you're anything like me (bad at puzzles), you'll be pleased to know that this zone gives you a mental break and you don't actually need to decode anything to get your puzzle piece — just soak in the good acting on screen! After getting all eight puzzle pieces, we submitted it to a crew member dressed in an officer jacket. Afterwards, he directed us to another 'officer' who instructed us to get our complimentary mugshot or profiler photo taken. Overall, had it not been for my teamwork with Jeng Jee, I'm confident I would've given up halfway. I highly recommend you visit this pop-up with a friend and laugh at each other's intellectual blunders like we did and have an immersive taste of the detective life for the day. To try your shot at being a sleuth, head down to the pop-up located at Plaza Singapura B2-17/18. It runs from May 24 to June 10, and is open from 3pm - 9pm on weekdays and 11am - 10pm on weekends. Mystery thriller Nine Puzzles follows Yoon E-na (Da-mi), who discovers the body of her murdered uncle next to a single puzzle piece and is deemed the sole witness to the murder case. The case remains unsolved. A decade later, detective Kim Han-saem (Suk-ku) who had initially suspected E-na as the murderer, is surprised when she shows up as a criminal profiler in his unit. Together, they try to uncover the secrets behind a series of murders. Nine Puzzles, which also stars Kim Sung-kyun and Hyun Bong-sik, is now available for streaming exclusively on Disney+. It also features cameo appearances from Park Sung-woong, Lee Sung-min, Hwang Jung-min, Lee Hee-joon as well as Ji Jin-hee. [[nid:717998]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
Pink Villa
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Knock-Off delay: Disney addresses hold on Jo Bo Ah starrer as Kim Soo Hyun-Kim Sae Ron scandal intensifies
The fate of Kim Soo Hyun' s much-anticipated series Knock-Off remains uncertain amid ongoing controversy surrounding his rumored dating scandal with actress Kim Sae Ron. Speculation intensified on May 2, when a set of promotional posters for the show unexpectedly appeared on IMDb, sparking renewed debate about the project's release. However, to address all other growing speculation, Choi Yeon Woo, Head of Local Content at Walt Disney Company Korea, has spoken out. When asked about the status of Knock-Off, Choi reiterated Disney+'s official stance: 'The release has been postponed following an internal review. There have been no further updates since then.' When questioned about the financial penalties being imposed on Kim Soo Hyun due to the delay, Choi declined to comment, stating, 'It is difficult to provide an answer.' Previously, rumors circulated suggesting that Disney+ might impose a significant penalty on Kim Soo Hyun due to the series' indefinite postponement, and the controversy surrounding his personal life affected the series. While some industry insiders claimed a large fine was inevitable, others denied any such action. As of now, no official decision has been confirmed, and the situation remains unresolved. The scandal has had broader ramifications for the cast and production. Actress Jo Bo Ah, who stars opposite Kim Soo Hyun, has distanced herself from Knock-Off and committed to a different project - Dear Hongrang. If things were on track, Knock-Off would have been her first screen appearance after her marriage. Had Knock-Off proceeded as planned, it would have served as her comeback role. Further complicating matters is the ongoing legal conflict reportedly involving Kim Sae Ron's family, which has added another layer of uncertainty to the show's future. In short, the release of Knock-Off is mired in controversy and uncertainty, with no clear resolution in sight. As the scandal continues to unfold, viewers are left wondering whether the series will ever see the light of day.
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Disney+ Rematch star admits he thought 'ridiculous' character trait was too much
Christian Cooke stars in Disney+'s new chess drama Rematch as real-life grandmaster Garry Kasparov Rematch lead Christian Cooke underwent extensive physical and mental training for his role as chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov in the enthralling new series now streaming on Disney+. Despite this, he confessed to initially resisting a distinctive trait of Kasparov's, which audiences will notice recurring throughout the captivating six-part run. First aired in France last year, the series has finally arrived for UK viewers eager to witness the tense and true tale of Russian genius Kasparov challenging IBM's supercomputer Deep Blue in 1997 chess bouts. Kasparov's commitment to fitness is consistently depicted in the drama, with scenes showing him breaking from chess strategising to perform push-ups in his hotel room - a frequent sight each episode. The star revealed in a chat with Express Online: "I kind of fought back against it initially", reports the Express. "I initially thought it was a bit ridiculous, right? I'm not afraid to say that." However, after discussions with Rematch's co-creator Yan England, Cooke acknowledged the physicality was aptly chosen for his character and began to see the reasoning behind it. Cooke elaborated: "But, the thing is, Garry was very fit and he was the first chess grandmaster to really approach it like an athlete. "He was very fit, he ran a lot, he did a lot of push-ups. Approaching a match, he was very strict about his diet and his training. And so, now there is this accepted thing of 'healthy body, healthy mind'. "I don't know if chess players were really putting much thought behind that in the '90s and before that as well, but he'd been doing that in the '80s, since before he was world champion." Kasparov's legacy isn't just about his iconic matches against the machine. The series introduces viewers to a host of chess legends Kasparov defeated, including the Russian prodigy Anatoly Karpov (portrayed by Szabolcs Ruszina). Cooke highlights how the series' flashbacks capture Kasparov's belief in the importance of physical fitness alongside mental agility, especially during gruelling tournaments. "His match with Karpov, when he won the world championship, it went on for five months," Cooke recounts. "It's psychological and you have to be really fit to endure that. If you're sat at a computer and you work for10 hoursa day, writing or whatever, you're knackered. And it's that times 100, I think. "So, I said to Yan, 'Look, I'm going to trust you with this, but it feels a bit ridiculous to me'. But I do think it works. "It's sort of his little quirk, so that's one of those leaps of faith you take. I'm going to do this and hope I don't get egg on my face." The team behind Rematch can breathe a sigh of relief, as the show has garnered glowing reviews from both fans and critics alike. With its UK streaming debut, even more viewers are set to be captivated by the enthralling drama based on fascinating real events.
