Disney+ Will Claim Bridgerton’s Crown With Its Ultimate Successor in 2026

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It’s been just over a year since the last season of Netflix’s Bridgerton focused on Penelope and Colin, and now the show is returning with a new love story. This time, the season will follow Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek in a romance inspired by Cinderella. However, because the last season received a somewhat mixed response, viewers are understandably a little hesitant about what to expect from this new installment.

With a lot of anticipation, Disney+ has released The Remarried Empress, a K-drama that has the potential to be this season’s biggest hit, much like Bridgerton.

Disney+ Has the True Bridgerton Successor Coming in 2026

Disney+ has announced a live-action K-drama adaptation of the popular webtoon, The Remarried Empress. It’s scheduled to premiere sometime in the second half of 2026.

Even with limited previews, the series has already won over fans of the original webtoon and novel. They appreciate how faithfully it adapts the story, features perfect casting choices, and maintains the Western atmosphere of the source material, all while being a Korean production.

Disney+ is building excitement for its upcoming shows by releasing a new teaser trailer. The trailer includes several clips from The Remarried Empress, showcasing important scenes like the first encounter between Navier and Heinrey, Navier’s wedding, and a kiss between Sovieshu and Rashta, among other moments.

I have to say, the recent sneak peeks of Lee Se-young as Rashta have completely won me over. I was a little unsure at first, but she perfectly captures Rashta’s innocent, almost naive act – it’s all in her expressions! And honestly, with that gorgeous wavy auburn hair in the teaser, she’s giving me major Daphne Bridgerton vibes. It’s a fantastic look for the character.

The Remarried Empress Has One Advantage Over Bridgerton

The Remarried Empress Truly Puts the “Drama” in K-Drama

As a huge fan of period dramas, I’m getting really excited about the live-action adaptation of The Remarried Empress. Honestly, everything I’ve seen so far – the sets, the costumes – looks fantastic! It’s starting to feel like Disney+ might have something really special on their hands, potentially a show that could capture the same magic and popularity as Bridgerton.

While many were excited about Penelope and Colin’s romance, Season 3 of Bridgerton didn’t quite live up to expectations for a lot of viewers. Despite being the main couple, Penelope and Colin felt secondary to several side stories that weren’t essential to their plot.

Fans initially loved the show’s costumes, but even those started to feel different from the original style, and the makeup became noticeably modern and distracting. This has led to worries that the upcoming fourth season might continue this trend, which is why The Remarried Empress could be a welcome alternative.

Disney+

Though it includes some fantasy elements, The Remarried Empress is primarily a historical drama focused on romance. Similar to Bridgerton, the story centers on the developing relationship between Empress Navier and Prince Heinrey after Emperor Sovieshu takes on a new mistress, Rashta.

I’m completely hooked on The Remarried Empress! Even without a mysterious gossip columnist, the show is incredibly dramatic, especially when it dives into the intricate world of the royal court and high society. Honestly, if you loved Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte, I think you’ll really enjoy this – it has a similar focus on those fascinating power dynamics and social games.

Now that Benedict’s story has concluded, Bridgerton is nearing the end of its focus on the Bridgerton siblings. Eloise or Francesca will probably be featured next, leaving only Gregory and Hyacinth. It’s uncertain whether the show will continue long enough to cover their stories, or if those final narratives will be interesting enough for viewers.

Unlike Bridgerton, The Remarried Empress has a lot more source material – almost 250 webtoon chapters – meaning a live-action adaptation could potentially run for many years. Luckily for fans of both shows, 2026 promises to be an exciting year with new content coming soon.

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2026-01-25 01:49