Shocking and already viral: the highly anticipated drama uniting Nam Joo-hyuk, Roh Yoon-seo, and Cho Seung-woo has dropped chilling press stills that crank expectations through the roof.
On the 22nd, Netflix's series The East Palace unveiled stills capturing a bizarre curse hanging over the royal court and snapshots of mysterious incidents, instantly seizing viewers' attention.
The East Palace is a fantasy period drama following Gu-cheon (played by Nam Joo-hyuk), who can cross into the realm of spirits, and Saenggang (played by Roh Yoon-seo), a court lady with a secret. Summoned by the king (played by Cho Seung-woo), they hunt down the truth behind the curse haunting the East Palace.
The stills reveal a palace that's breathtaking yet eerily foreboding, dialing up the suspense. In one cut, the king clutches his son, Prince Yeongan (played by Jo Dan), his face torn between desperation and fear. In another, he forces Gu-cheon to his knees, radiating icy charisma. Curiosity is surging over why a king who never believed in ghosts or curses has called Gu-cheon into his court.
The perilous pursuit led by Gu-cheon and Saenggang under the king's orders also grabs attention. Gu-cheon trudges into a pond with a rope around his neck, while Saenggang draws her bowstring tight—moments away from disaster. Bathed in a red glow, Gu-cheon inside the 'realm of spirits' exudes a mysterious aura unlike his reality-bound self. And with Saenggang able to hear the voices of ghosts, a shot of her listening intently raises questions about the role she'll play in uncovering the truth.
As the stills hit the web, netizens raved: "Nam Joo-hyuk's gaze slayed," "The still-cut quality is insane," and "Cho Seung-woo in a period drama? This already screams hit."
Blending a palace-set mystery with a bold universe that moves between the real world and the spirit realm, the well-made fantasy sageuk The East Palace premieres worldwide on Netflix on July 17.