Netflix is assembling a star-studded cast for “The Men of the Harem,” one of the streamer’s most anticipated Korean originals for next year. The show is built around an unconventional premise: an empress who surrounds herself with male concubines to protect her throne.
Bae Suzy (“Genie, Make A Wish,” “Doona!”) is set to lead the palace romance fantasy as Latil, empress of the Tarium Empire, with a lineup of actors being considered for the men who join her harem.
The show, based on the Naver web novel of the same name, follows Latil as she takes male concubines in an effort to secure her position on the throne. The story unfolds in a fantastical world where imperial court intrigue coexists with demon kings, blood demons, martial arts and sorcery.
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The web novel was serialized from March 2020 to June 2023 and amassed 21.4 million downloads, establishing itself as a major hit on Naver’s web novel platform.
Among the actors being considered as Latil’s male concubines are Shin Seung-ho (“D.P.”), “Single’s Inferno” breakout star Dex, Kim Dan (“The Winning Try”) and Yoo Jung-hoo.
The cast has undergone a recent shake-up, however. Lee Soo-hyuk (“Scholar Who Walks the Night,” “S Line”), who had been confirmed as one of the male leads and generated considerable buzz around his casting, has exited the project due to scheduling conflicts. Lee Jong-won (“Knight Flower,” “Hospital Playlist 2”) is now being considered as his replacement.
Behind the camera, Hwang Jin-young, who wrote “The Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People” and “My Dearest,” is penning the screenplay. Star director Lee Eung-bok, whose credits include “Descendants of the Sun,” “Mr. Sunshine,” “Sweet Home” and “Dear X,” is directing.
