Reports recently surfaced suggesting that the highly awaited romance drama Wife of a 21st Century Prince might face a setback with lead actors IU and Byeon Woo Seok potentially leaving the project. These rumors stemmed from alleged disagreements regarding the drama’s broadcasting platform. However, both actors’ agencies have swiftly responded to these claims, assuring fans of their continued involvement.
Broadcasting Dispute Sparks Exit Rumors
On March 27th, a report by TV Daily indicated that IU and Byeon Woo Seok had expressed their desire to withdraw from Wife of a 21st Century Prince. The report suggested that this decision was due to disagreements between the drama’s production team and various broadcasting networks concerning distribution rights.
Industry insiders reportedly stated that MBC, the primary network behind the drama, was in negotiations with Disney+ for the series’ streaming release. In contrast, it was alleged that IU and Byeon Woo Seok, along with their respective teams, preferred the drama to be available on Netflix. Their preference reportedly stemmed from the belief that Netflix would offer a wider international audience and greater exposure for the show.
#ByeonWooSeok and #IU have been confirmed to star in new MBC drama.
It set in a modern-day constitutional monarchy. The drama follows a romance between (IU), a chaebol heiress frustrated by her "commoner" status, and BWS a royal unable to possess anything beyond his title. pic.twitter.com/PJHv6ZNEhS
A source familiar with the situation was quoted as saying:
From my understanding, their decision was made due to the inability of the cast and the production team to coordinate the broadcast of the K-Drama. MBC is negotiating with Disney+ while the actors want Netflix.
Initially, MBC had planned to premiere Wife of a 21st Century Prince in the first half of 2025. However, a recent update from the network vaguely mentioned a release sometime within 2025. This shift in the premiere timeline further fueled speculation that the drama’s production was facing difficulties, leading to uncertainty about the filming schedule and the potential for cast changes.
Agencies Deny Actors’ Withdrawal
Amidst the growing rumors, both IU‘s agency, EDAM Entertainment, and Byeon Woo Seok‘s agency, Varo Entertainment, have firmly denied the reports of their artists’ withdrawal. They have reassured fans that IU and Byeon Woo Seok remain committed to Wife of a 21st Century Prince.
A representative from EDAM Entertainment stated:
The reports of IU dropping out of the K-Drama are false. She is preparing well for it.
Similarly, Varo Entertainment issued a clear statement regarding Byeon Woo Seok‘s participation:
Byeon Woo Seok is not dropping out of the K-Drama. He will appear as scheduled.
While both agencies have explicitly denied the actors’ potential departure, the production team behind Wife of a 21st Century Prince has yet to release an official statement addressing the broadcasting dispute rumors. This lack of official confirmation from the production side leaves some room for continued speculation among fans. For now, audiences will need to await further updates from the network to determine the future of Wife of a 21st Century Prince and whether it will proceed as planned with IU and Byeon Woo Seok in the lead roles. The drama has undoubtedly captured public attention, and the reasons for this attention may continue to evolve as more information becomes available.
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