Netflix is moving forward with a new project that brings together some of the most talked-about talent in contemporary Korean drama. The streaming giant has confirmed that production is underway on Materesa (working title), a series that pairs the director behind the massive hit Queen of Tears with the writing team known for The East Palace. The announcement, made on Tuesday, has already generated significant buzz among fans of the genre, given the pedigree attached to the project.
The series will be directed by Kim Hee-won, who recently helmed every episode of Queen of Tears, the tvN melodrama that became a cultural phenomenon earlier this year. Kim’s work on that show, which chronicled the crumbling and eventual rebirth of a chaebol couple’s marriage, earned widespread praise for its emotional precision and visual polish. For Materesa, Kim will step back into a world of high-stakes drama, though the plot details remain under wraps. Netflix’s official logline only describes the show as a story centered on a mysterious figure named Materesa, with themes of identity, memory, and revenge teased in early casting announcements.
The script comes from the duo of Park Ji-eun and Kim Eun-suk, who previously collaborated on The East Palace, a period thriller that aired in 2024 and won a devoted following for its intricate court politics and sharp dialogue. That series, set in the Joseon era, was noted for its layered female characters and morally ambiguous plotting. With Materesa, the writers are moving into a contemporary setting for the first time together, though sources close to the production suggest the show will retain the same narrative density that made their historical work stand out.
Leading the cast is Jun Ji-hyun, who returns to Netflix after starring in the hit fantasy romance My Love from the Star and, more recently, the cryptic thriller Mount Jiri. Jun has been circling this project for several months, and her confirmation had been widely expected given her close working relationship with director Kim. She will play the title character, though specifics about her role - whether she is the victim, the villain, or something in between - have been deliberately kept vague. Industry insiders hint that the part requires Jun to toggle between a cold, calculating exterior and a deeply fractured interior, a range she has showcased in both film and television.
Opposite Jun is Kim Soo-hyun, who reunites with director Kim Hee-won after their collaboration on Queen of Tears. That show led to a career renaissance for the actor, whose portrayal of a grief-stricken executive earned him some of the best reviews of his career. In Materesa, Kim is expected to play a detective drawn into a case that intersects with his own buried past. The dynamic between his character and Jun’s is said to be the emotional core of the series, with early script pages reportedly featuring tense, dialogue-heavy scenes that play to both actors’ strengths.
The supporting cast adds considerable heft. Wi Ha-joon, fresh off his role in the Netflix survival drama Squid Game, will play a rival investigator whose motives are unclear. Lee Jung-eun, the veteran character actress who stole scenes in Parasite, is attached as a mysterious mentor figure. And newcomer Ahn Se-bin rounds out the core ensemble as a young woman whose connection to Materesa forms a key mystery. The production team has also confirmed that the series will shoot entirely in South Korea, with locations spanning Seoul’s modern districts and quieter coastal towns, giving the show a visual contrast that the director has said he plans to exploit.
The announcement of Materesa arrives at a moment when Netflix is doubling down on Korean-language content. The platform has seen enormous returns from its investment in the region, with shows like Squid Game, The Glory, and Queen of Tears consistently ranking in its global top ten. Materesa is positioned as a prestige entry in that slate, with a reported budget that exceeds the typical drama spend, though Netflix has declined to confirm figures. The working title, which the company says may change before release, suggests a possible nod to the Spanish word for “mother,” though the production has remained tight-lipped about whether the reference is literal or thematic.
Filming is scheduled to begin later this month and is expected to run through early next year, with a tentative release window in late 2027. Netflix has not yet outlined an episode count, but sources suggest the series will run for eight episodes, a format the platform has favored for its more cinematic offerings. The project is being produced by Studio Dragon, the powerhouse behind many of the region’s biggest hits, which has worked closely with Netflix on several previous collaborations.
The pairing of Kim Hee-won’s directorial eye with Park and Kim’s writing has raised expectations that Materesa could follow in the footsteps of Queen of Tears as a global watercooler show. That earlier series, which aired earlier this year, drew record ratings in South Korea and found a passionate international audience, particularly in Asia and Latin America. Whether Materesa can replicate that level of reach remains to be seen, but the early pieces are certainly in place: a beloved star, a proven director, and writers who know how to build slow-burn suspense.
For now, fans will have to wait for more concrete details, including a full plot synopsis and a premiere date. The cast and crew are currently in final rehearsals, with location scouting already underway. As with any high-profile Netflix project, the road from announcement to screen involves many moving parts, and the company has a track record of adjusting timelines as production unfolds. Still, the confirmation of this particular trio of talent - director, writers, and lead actress - has already made Materesa one of the most anticipated titles on the platform’s upcoming slate, and the conversation around it is only likely to intensify once filming begins.
Source: Netflix Newsroom