Actor Remarried Empress star Joo Ji-hoon is showing a completely new side of himself that viewers have never seen in his previous filmography. He plays a cunning, shameless, and utterly captivating bad boy.
The Disney+ original series Remarried Empress unexpectedly dropped its first four episodes a day ahead of schedule on the 3rd, officially unveiling the highly anticipated project. As expected from a title that generated global buzz even before its release, it claimed the number one spot in Disney+ TV shows across 12 countries within just a day, proving its extraordinary popularity.
In the series, Joo Ji-hoon takes on the role of Emperor Sovieshu, the absolute ruler of the Eastern Empire. With his overwhelming physical presence, luxurious imperial aura, and natural ability to bring a fantasy world character to life, he has successfully opened the doors to the K-romance fantasy genre.
During the first four episodes, Joo Ji-hoon immediately grabbed attention with an entrance radiating imperial dignity. However, a twist soon followed as he brilliantly portrayed Sovieshu being swept away by emotions for the very first time. He falls head over heels for the runaway slave Rashta (played by Lee Se-young) at first sight, instantly declaring that he will take her as his concubine, and even publicly punishes Empress Navier’s (played by Shin Min-a) lady-in-waiting for speaking harshly to Rashta.
The absurdity did not stop there. At the New Year’s festival that Navier had spent a long time preparing, he danced first with Rashta, claiming it was the only song they practiced together. At the same time, he could not hide his discomfort and jealousy when Navier danced with Prince Heinrey (played by Lee Jong-suk) of the Western Kingdom, sparking a wave of amusement and outrage among viewers. The scene quickly spread across various social media and online communities immediately after its release, generating massive buzz.
Through this role, Joo Ji-hoon maintains the dignity and authority of an emperor while introducing the birth of an ultimate bad boy via the stubbornly shameless Sovieshu. While he previously leaned toward reliable fixer roles, he has transformed into a total troublemaker this time. His presence alone successfully sells the fantasy setting, while Sovieshu’s reverse charmβdevoid of malice yet entirely infuriatingβdrives the drama’s entertainment value and immersion.
