Actor Lee Jong-suk has marked his return to the small screen as the charming prince Heinrey in "The Remarried Empress".
On the morning of November 3, a press conference for the Disney+ original series "The Remarried Empress" (written by Yeo Ji-na and Hyun Chung-yeol, directed by Cho Soo-won) was held at Conrad Seoul in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Director Cho Soo-won and actors Shin Mina, Ju Ji-hoon, Lee Jong-suk, and Lee Seyoung attended the event.
"The Remarried Empress" is an epic romance fantasy chronicle depicting Navier (played by Shin Mina), the perfect empress of the Eastern Empire, who receives notice of a divorce from Emperor Sovieshu (played by Ju Ji-hoon) after he falls for runaway slave Rashta (played by Lee Seyoung); rather than simply accepting it, she demands approval to remarry Prince Heinrey (played by Lee Jong-suk) of the Western Kingdom.
On this day, Lee Jong-suk shared his reason for joining the project, saying, "I really enjoyed reading the original webtoon and web novel. When I heard it was being adapted into a drama, I thought it would make for an unfamiliar yet fresh and charming project. Thinking, 'When else would I ever get to play a prince?' I readily agreed to come on board."
Regarding his character Heinrey, he said, "He is a warm figure with a secret identity who falls in love after meeting Navier and transforms into her dependable ally," adding, "I tried to showcase a distinctive charm rooted in an easygoing and sly nature."
In the drama, Heinrey is the ultimate prince charming who becomes the envy of every woman with his flawless looks and voice. Addressing this setup, Lee Jong-suk confessed frankly, "It was an immense burden for me." He added, "More than ever before, I had to pay a great deal of attention to my external appearance. For that reason, it was a burdensome project."
In particular, addressing the premise in which Heinrey transforms into the mystical bird 'Queen,' Lee Jong-suk quipped, "I kind of look like a bird," and shared, "The production team actually incorporated my appearance and physical gestures into the bird's design." He went on to share an amusing story, saying, "When he first transforms from a bird back into a human, he appears naked. Because that was an important setup for the drama, I requested the director, 'Please give me just one more month to work on my physique.'"
The project also drew spotlight for his third collaboration with Director Cho Soo-won, with whom he spent his twenties making "I Can Hear Your Voice" and "Pinocchio." Director Cho expressed his gratitude, saying, "Actor Lee Jong-suk readily lent his support, which gave me the courage to launch this project." Lee Jong-suk likewise displayed his trust, sharing, "I was able to take courage and begin after having many conversations with the director."
Anticipation is high for the Disney+ original series "The Remarried Empress," a live-action adaptation of a legendary IP that accumulated 2.97 billion global views. Episodes 1 through 4 will be released this afternoon, Tuesday, November 3, followed by two episodes every Wednesday for a total run of 10 episodes.
[Photo = Reporter Baek Seung-cheol]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)
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