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Time of India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From 'Start-Up' to 'Delusion': Suzy and Kim Seon Ho reunite for 2026 K-drama mystery thriller
Reuniting for the first time since their hit 2020 drama Start-Up, Suzy and Kim Seon Ho's highly anticipated K-drama Delusion has officially confirmed its release timeline. On May 23, Disney+ Korea made the announcement at an open house event at the Walt Disney Company Korea headquarters in Gangnam, Seoul. Delusion is slated to premiere in 2026 and filming for the same began in early 2025, with full-scale production scheduled between March and May. The 10-episode series will stream exclusively on Disney+ upon release. Casting changes The lead roles were initially offered to Ryu Jun-yeol and Han So-hee, but both actors withdrew from the project following their breakup in March 2024. Soon after, Suzy and Kim Seon Ho were cast for this role. About 'Delusion' The story is a mystery thriller with fantasy and romance elements and is based on the popular webtoon by Hongjacga. Set in 1935 Gyeongseong (modern-day Seoul), the story follows Yun Yi-ho (played by Kim Seon Ho), a struggling artist commissioned to paint Song Jeong-hwa (played by Suzy), the mysterious owner of the Nammoon Hotel — who is secretly a vampire. As the portrait progresses, Yun discovers a chilling pattern: previous artists have all vanished under mysterious circumstances, unraveling a dark and dangerous secret. The cast & characters Bae Suzy stars as Song Jeong-hwa, the alluring and eerie hotel owner who hasn't been seen in public for over 50 years. She hides a centuries-old secret beneath her eternal beauty. Kim Seon Ho plays Yun Yi-ho, an artist searching for meaning and artistic inspiration. As he becomes entranced by Jeong-hwa, he's drawn deeper into a web of mystery, fear, and forbidden romance. Other cast members include Huh Joon-ho, Choi Hyun-wook, and Kim Young-kwang. Production team details Director: Han Jae-rim (The King, Emergency Declaration, The 8 Show) Production companies: Showbox, Magnum Nine Platform: Disney+ Episodes: 10 Release year: 2026 For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Korea Herald
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Disney+ Korea unveils strategy for latter half of 2025
Release schedule for Disney+ tentpole project 'Knock Off' starring Kim Soo-hyun still undecided Disney+ Korea on Friday outlined its strategic vision and announced a highly anticipated slate of original series for the second half of the year, spotlighting the return of major Korean stars including Kang Dong-won and Jun Ji-hyun. According to Choi Yeon-u, director of local content at Walt Disney Company Korea, the forward-looking strategy of Disney+ centers on four key pillars: 'tentpole,' 'curated selection,' 'franchise series,' and 'new opportunities.' 'Tentpole' refers to the streamer's commitment to developing large-scale content backed by compelling narratives and participation from top-tier actors and production staff. 'Curated selection' encompasses a diverse portfolio of content that can complement tentpole content, while "franchise series' signals an effort to develop Korean content with global franchise potential and expand the universe within the fictional world. Finally, 'new opportunities' highlights the platform's push to expand experimental content in new formats that reflect changing viewer consumption patterns. In addition to outlining its strategic direction, Disney+ announced its 2025 content lineup for the latter half of the year, including 'Tempest,' starring Kang Dong-won and Jun Ji-hyun; 'Made In Korea,' starring Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung; 'Low Life,' starring Ryu Seung-ryong; 'The Murky Stream,' starring Ro-woon and Shin Ye-eun and 'The Manipulated,' starring Ji Chang-wuk. The platform also confirmed the upcoming broadcast of two projects in 2026: 'Dazzlement' (translated), a highly anticipated drama adaptation of a popular webtoon of the same name starring Bae Suzy and Kim Seon-ho, as well as a new variety show, 'Destiny Wars 49' (translated), in which 49 contestants compete for survival. Casting and directorial details for 'Destiny Wars 49' have not yet been disclosed. Following Choi's remarks, two key producers behind Disney+ Korean originals were introduced. Kim Won-kuk, the head of Hive Media Corp, the production company behind 'Made In Korea,' and You Jung-hoon, the head of Merry Christmas, which is producing the second season of 'A Shop for Killers,' shared their perspectives on the evolving content landscape. Yoo emphasized creating content with the potential to be expanded upon. "When designing content, I believe we need to start by thinking about the universe it exists in. … Korean creators need to focus on this aspect and craft stories that are scalable. That's the way to truly communicate with the world," said Yoo, during a press event held at The Walt Disney Company Korea's headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Friday. "I believe we should prioritize content with the potential to evolve into series and spin-offs. It's important to focus on the world-building elements and explore how these universes can be expanded. We also need to closely track viewer consumption habits and adapt to their changing lifestyles," he added. Yoo also characterized shifts in content consumption as driven by fast consumers and on-demand viewing, explaining, 'Streaming platforms effectively fulfill the demand for on-demand access. Even during the planning phase, creators need to move beyond traditional storytelling methods and focus on preserving tension and pacing that resonates with streaming platform audiences.' Choi was also asked about Disney+'s release schedule for 'Knock Off.' The tentpole project was initially slated for release earlier this year but postponed following controversy surrounding its main lead, Kim Soo-hyun. Regarding the exclusion of 'Knock Off' from the second-half lineup, Choi said 'Disney+ has officially decided to postpone its (release) plans after careful consideration. It is difficult to provide any further comment at this time.'
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.
Korea Herald
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Disney taps Suzy for 'Snow White' theme song
Former Miss A singer joins Disney's lineup of Korean collaborators in $200m remake Actor-singer Suzy has been tapped to perform the Korean version of "Waiting On A Wish," the main theme song for Disney's upcoming "Snow White" remake, Walt Disney Company Korea announced Monday. A 44-second teaser video released Monday on Disney Korea's official YouTube channel shows Suzy braving a snowstorm in a red cape as she ventures into an enchanted forest setting. The song captures Snow White's (played by Rachel Zegler) determination to chart her own course against the power-hungry Queen (Gal Gadot) in the film. The full version of the song and music video will be released in the coming weeks, ahead of the film's theatrical release in Korea March 19. The partnership continues Disney's strategy of recruiting K-pop stars for its localized soundtrack releases. Previous collaborations include: Girls' Generation's Taeyeon for "Into the Unknown" from "Frozen 2" (2019), NewJeans' Danielle for "Part of Your World" from "The Little Mermaid" (2023), IVE's An Yujin for "This Wish" from "Wish" (2023; released in 2024 in Korea), and TWICE's Nayeon for "Beyond" from "Moana 2" (2024). For Suzy, the Disney gig arrives on the heels of her musical comeback. The former Miss A member recently released her digital single "Come Back" on Feb. 17, marking her first solo release in over two years following 2022's "Cape." Since moving on from Miss A, Suzy has carved out a successful acting career with standout roles in TV dramas including "Dream High" (2011), "While You Were Sleeping" (2017), "Vagabond" (2019), and "Start-Up" (2020). She is set to appear alongside Kim Woo-bin in Netflix's upcoming fantasy romance series "All The Love You Wish For," slated for release later this year. Meanwhile, the "Snow White" remake has faced a bumpy road to production. First announced nearly a decade ago, the project ran into multiple roadblocks, including during the height of the pandemic and 2023 Hollywood actors' strike. Director Marc Webb's $200 million production features Rachel Zegler in the title role, with music by "La La Land" composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The production's troubles didn't end with the delays. After actor Peter Dinklage publicly criticized Disney's portrayal of the seven dwarfs, the studio switched to using CGI for the characters — a move that drew another round of controversy for eliminating potential roles for actors with dwarfism. For some, casting Zegler— an American actress of Colombian and Polish descent — as Snow White kicked up dust across social media and online bulletin boards. In Korea, some users asked how the casting strayed from the character's previous look that shaped their childhood memories.
