A fresh lineup of upcoming titles is set to arrive on Netflix and Disney+, bringing together diverse genres and captivating storylines. The new releases range from a 1970s hijacking drama to a hotel for wandering souls — an intriguing mix that promises both emotional and thrilling experiences for viewers.
Netflix’s “Good News” – A 1970s Hijack Mission with Modern Relevance
- Title: Good News (2025)
- Hangul: 굿뉴스
- Also Known As: Gut Nuiuseu, 굿늬우스
- Genres: Action, Thriller, Crime, Mystery
- Screenwriter & Director: Byun Sung Hyun
- Release date: Oct 17, 2025
- Country: South Korea
- Running time: 136 min. (2 hr. 16 min.)
- Watch on: Netflix
Premiering at a festival on September 6, 2025, and officially released online on October 17, Netflix’s film Good News dives into a suspenseful story about a hijacked airplane and a mysterious operation to land it at all costs.
Directed by Byun Sung-hyun, the film stars Sul Kyung-gu, Hong Kyung, and Ryu Seung-beom — a powerhouse trio. At the production briefing held on the 14th, Director Byun described Good News as “a work that adds imagination to a real-life incident and incorporates a story that can resonate with the current generation,” adding that he “worked with the actors through re-created characters.”
In the film, Sul Kyung-gu plays “Nobody,” an unidentified troubleshooter. Hong Kyung portrays elite Air Force Lieutenant Seo Go-myeong, while Ryu Seung-beom steps in as Park Sang-hyun, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Each character joins the mission with different motives — leaving audiences to wonder if this unlikely team can pull off such an extraordinary feat.
‘Grand Galaxy Hotel’ – The Next Big Fantasy Drama from the Hong Sisters
Netflix also confirmed the production of Grand Galaxy Hotel, an upcoming series starring Lee Do-hyun, Shin Shi Ah, Lee Soo-hyuk, and Lee Su-hyun.
The fantasy drama comes from the famous Hong Sisters, writers of The Master’s Sun and Alchemy of Souls, alongside director Oh Choong-hwan, who previously worked on Start-Up and Melo Movie. Expectations are high for this new project that blends humor, mystery, and emotional depth.
Set in a hotel that provides comfort to lost souls, the story begins when the CEO of the world’s top “soul-comforting” hotel suddenly disappears. Soon, the newly appointed CEO Eun-ha (Lee Do-hyun) meets Sang-soon (Shin Shi Ah), the hotel’s only human manager. Lee Soo-hyuk plays Baek-gi, a Grim Reaper responsible for cleaning up evil remnants, while Lee Su-hyun stars as Seok-san, a mysterious woman with an unsettling aura.
Through the ghosts’ stories and events that bridge life and the afterlife, the series promises a touching yet eerie narrative — one that’s expected to resonate with fans of fantasy K-dramas.
Disney+’s ‘The Manipulated’ – A Revenge Thriller with Strong Social Undercurrents
- Title: The Manipulated (2025)
- Hangul: 조각도시
- Original: Fabricated City (2017) Korean Movie
- Also Known As: Carved City, Sculpture City
- Genres: Action, Thriller, Crime
- Director: Park Shin Woo, Kim Chang Ju
- Screenwriter: Oh Sang Ho
- Aired On: Wednesday
- Number of Episodes: 12
- Release date: Nov 5, 2025
- Finale Date: Dec 3, 2025
- Country: South Korea
- Watch on: Disney+
On November 5, Disney+ will release The Manipulated, written by Oh Sang-ho, the writer of Taxi Driver and The Roundup: Punishment.
This action-drama follows Tae Jung (Ji Chang-wook), a man living an ordinary life until he’s falsely accused of a brutal crime and imprisoned. When he realizes that everything was orchestrated by Yo-han (Doh Kyung Soo), he begins plotting revenge.
Writer Oh Sang-ho shared, “The film ‘The Manipulated’ came out first, and I was asked if I would be interested in creating a series. The atmosphere of fakes and manipulation, and the zeitgeist, still hold relevance to today’s reality.”
He added, “The way the protagonist is loved—the idea that you have to work hard and live in the present, sweating for it—seems to be what viewers support. I tried to adapt the work to fit the current mood,” and continued, “If the audience contrasts what Tae Jung, who has lost everything, is holding onto, with what Yo-han, who thinks he has everything, is missing, won’t that contrast hit home when they finish watching the story?”
The series, directed by Park Shin-woo and Kim Chang-ju, features a strong supporting cast including Kim Jong-soo, Jo Yoon-soo, and Lee Kwang-soo.
All in all, both Netflix and Disney+ seem to be doubling down on Korean storytelling — not just expanding, but experimenting. From the suspense-driven Good News to the hauntingly imaginative Grand Galaxy Hotel, and the revenge-fueled The Manipulated, each project feels like part of a larger wave of K-content going global.
It’s clear (and maybe a little overdue) that international audiences are craving more — more thrillers, more fantasy, more of that signature emotional realism that Korean dramas do so well. And with star-studded casts like Lee Do-hyun, Ji Chang-wook, and Doh Kyung Soo, expectations are already running high.
