November 13, 2026, 12:44 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
A new series on Disney+ is surprisingly becoming a global success. Shortly after its debut, the production is already showing impressive numbers and gaining traction in numerous countries. It achieves something that no comparable production has managed before.
“The Remarried Empress” Sets Disney+ Record
Behind the success is the Korean series “The Remarried Empress,” known in German as “Die neuvermählte Kaiserin.” Available on Disney+ since November 3, 2026, it has set a record there. According to company reports, it is the most-watched local original premiere on Disney+ worldwide to date. The key factor was the viewership within the first three days after release.
The word “local” is important here. It does not mean that “The Remarried Empress” only broke a record in Korea. Rather, it means that the series was developed as a Korean original production for that market. However, Disney measures its success for the record worldwide. And it is impressive: “The Remarried Empress” reached No. 1 in more than 50 markets, including Germany, the U.S., the U.K., France, Spain, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand.
The strong international start of the series is also shown by data outside of Disney. The Korean newspaper “Hankook Ilbo” reported that “The Remarried Empress” ranked No. 2 on the global Disney+ series charts on November 6, 2026. By that time, the production had already made it into the top 10 in 76 countries. On the day of release, it ranked No. 1 in twelve countries.
The Hype Was Already Big Before the Launch
The success is not entirely surprising. The story had many fans long before the Disney+ series. It is based on the Naver Webtoon of the same name, which, according to Disney, has garnered nearly three billion views since its release.
The series adaptation also sparked early interest. Screenings at the Busan International Film Festival in October 2026 were sold out. Additionally, the trailer received 13 million views within the first 48 hours of its release on YouTube and other social media platforms.
Originally, “The Remarried Empress” was set to premiere on Disney+ on November 4, 2026. However, as a “special thank you to the fans for their overwhelming support,” the streaming service moved the release up by one day. The first four episodes were thus available on November 3. Two new episodes are released every Wednesday, with the final of the total ten episodes airing on November 25.
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What “The Remarried Empress” Is About
The story centers on Empress Navier, played by Shin Mina. She is primarily focused on fulfilling her role as empress as best as she can. However, her romantic life is much less successful. Her husband, Emperor Sovieshu, played by Ju Jihoon, brings the former slave Rashta to the court after a hunting trip. Rashta, portrayed by Lee Seyoung, quickly becomes the emperor’s official mistress. The affair soon has consequences for Navier and her position at court. Eventually, Sovieshu even demands a divorce to marry Rashta and make her the new empress.
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Navier agrees to the divorce but surprises everyone by asking to remarry immediately. She chooses Heinrey, played by Lee Jongsuk, the crown prince of the rival kingdom. The relationship drama evolves into a power struggle, where personal feelings, political interests, and intrigues increasingly intertwine. Behind the love story, jealousy, and plenty of courtly drama lies the question of how Navier fights for her position in a system where others are already trying to determine her future.
What the Disney+ Record Really Means
As impressive as the announcement sounds, it should not be confused with a general Disney+ record. “The Remarried Empress” is not suddenly the most-watched Disney+ series ever. The record specifically applies to local original productions.
Moreover, Disney does not release specific viewership numbers. Therefore, it is not possible to independently verify how many people actually watched the series or how significantly it surpassed the previous record. What is certain is that among the productions Disney classifies as local originals, none has had a stronger worldwide start so far.