Disney+ original series "Remarried Empress" has released production stills showcasing the live-action adaptation of the original work's trickiest fantasy element: Lee Jong-suk's transformation into a bird.
Set to premiere on Wednesday, November 4, "Remarried Empress" is a romance fantasy epic that unfolds when Navier (Shin Mina), the perfect empress of the Eastern Empire, receives a notice of divorce from Emperor Sovieshu (Ju Ji-hoon)—who has fallen for the runaway slave Rashta (Lee Seyoung)—and demands approval for her remarriage to Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom (Lee Jong-suk).
"Remarried Empress" is a legendary IP with a cumulative global view count of 2.97 billion across the original web novel and the webtoon of the same name. As a romance fantasy genre, the story features unrealistic elements such as magical powers and the ability to transform into a bird. Consequently, there has been a mix of curiosity and concern over how far the live-action adaptation would incorporate the original worldview.
The production team poured the most effort into seamlessly grounding these fantastical elements into realistic mediums.
According to production behind-the-scenes materials released on October 26, the production team meticulously studied the fine movements and physical forms of real birds to realize the process of Prince Heinrey transforming into the mysterious bird "Queen." VFX Supervisor Kim Shin-chul stated, "We invested the most thought and time into creating the overall worldview," explaining that they focused on breathing the vivid realism of a living organism into the project.
In particular, they concentrated on blending actor Lee Jong-suk's unique charm into the appearance of the bird "Queen" without creating any sense of discord. When visualizing the "Queen," they thoroughly calculated subtle harmonies with surrounding elements—such as the wardrobe, hair color, and eye color of Lee Jong-suk, who plays Heinrey—to strike a balance between fantasy and reality.
The spatial and costume productions revealed alongside these details also delicately capture the characters' narratives. By contrasting the affluent, stable, and warm tones of the Eastern Empire with the cold, angular shapes of the Western Kingdom, the physical spaces of the two nations clearly express the relationships between the characters.
Art Director Lee Tae-hoon stated, "Our principle was to reflect each character's personality and narrative into their spaces," explaining that they differentiated Navier's space—filled with red and yellow tones to convey elegance and solitude—from Sovieshu's space, which uses blue and black tones to represent imperial authority.
Additionally, Director Cho Soo-won shared, "All objects were used as elements that go beyond mere decoration to heighten the realism and immersion of the worldview." For Navier, costume details were meticulously crafted according to changes in her relationships and emotions, such as wearing flamboyant outfits when with Sovieshu and restrained, soft attire when with Heinrey.
Completing the imagination of the original work with breathtaking live-action visuals, the Disney+ original series "Remarried Empress" will greet viewers starting with episodes 1 to 4 on Wednesday, November 4, followed by two episodes every Wednesday for a total of 10 episodes.
(Photo: Disney+)
Reported by Kang Sun-ae
(SBS Star News, reported by Kang Sun-ae)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.