Disney+ is lining up a buzzy pairing: IU and Byeon Woo-seok will lead "The 21st Century Grand Prince's Wife", slated to premiere in the first half of 2026.
Set in a modern-day Korea under a constitutional monarchy, the series follows Seong Hee-ju―a chaebol powerhouse who seemingly has it all except the right pedigree―and Lee Wan, a royal son who can claim everything by title yet nothing for himself. Their status-smashing, fate-rewriting romance turns the social order on its head.
Helmed by director Park Joon-hwa ("What's Wrong With Secretary Kim," "Alchemy of Souls") with scripts by writer Yoo A-in―whose work earned the Excellence Prize in the 2022 MBC Drama Screenplay Competition (Long-Form)―the project drew early buzz for its propulsive story and proactive leads.
All eyes are on the chemistry between two of Korea’s most in-demand stars, with expectations high that both will unveil career-defining turns.
Fresh off sweeping major trophies―including Best Actress at the 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards and the 20th Seoul International Drama Awards―for "When Life Gives You Tangerines," and acclaimed for nuanced performances in "My Mister" and "Hotel del Luna," IU plays Seong Hee-ju. Brilliant, striking, and fiercely competitive, she’s a top-tier executive who chooses a contract marriage to break past the limits imposed by her “commoner” status.
Byeon Woo-seok, who rocketed to stardom with "Lovely Runner," takes on Grand Prince Lee Wan―the royal family’s second son, expected to shine neither too brightly nor too loudly. Forced to tamp down a fierce heart, he’s mirrored by Hee-ju in pain and circumstance, yet shaped by different choices―until they become each other’s turning point, awakening new selves and deeper feelings.
"The 21st Century Grand Prince's Wife" premieres on Disney+ in early 2026.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)