4 November: Lee Se-young Takes on First Villain Role in Disney+ Remarried Empress
Actor Lee Se-young takes on her first villainous role as the runaway slave Rashta in Disney+’s romance fantasy series The Remarried Empress, premiering worldwide on November 4, 2026, tvdaily.co.kr reported.
From Romance Queen to Desperate Antagonist
Known for her defining work in romantic dramas such as The Red Sleeve, The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract, What Comes After Love, and Motel California, Lee shifts genres to play a complex character driven by newfound power and growing paranoia. The Remarried Empress adapts the hit web novel and webtoon of the same name into a live-action series. tvdaily.co.kr reported that the character Rashta escapes an oppressed life as a slave, captures the attention of Emperor Sovieshu played by Joo Ji-hoon, and gradually turns to malicious acts to protect her elevated status.
A Rivalry at the Heart of the Eastern Empire
The narrative centers on Empress Navier, played by Shin Min-a, who rules the Eastern Empire with perfection until Sovieshu falls for Rashta and demands a divorce. Navier responds by requesting permission to remarry Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom, played by Lee Jong-suk. tvdaily.co.kr reported that Lee Se-young mirrors her webtoon counterpart’s visual appearance and highlights Rashta’s internal shifts through careful emotional pacing, notably in a teaser line asking, “May I call you sister?”
Your next obsession. The Remarried Empress premieres November 4 on Disney+ and Hulu. pic.twitter.com/46wQwCERmF
Release Schedule and Production Rollout
Disney+ distributes the series globally in a staggered rollout. According to tvdaily.co.kr, The Remarried Empress launches its first four episodes on November 4, 2026, followed by two new episodes every Wednesday across a total of 10 episodes.
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