Netflix is preparing to add a new and unique superhero story to its growing list of Korean dramas. The Wonder Fools brings together a top-tier cast and a creative team known for hit shows to tell the story of what happens when very imperfect people get very imperfect superpowers. The series finished filming in May 2025 and is scheduled to arrive on the streaming service in 2026.
The Story and Setting of The Wonder Fools
The series takes place in the fictional Haeseong City during the year 1999. This was a time filled with anxiety about the new millennium, a feeling that matches the confusion the main characters experience. The story begins when an unexpected event gives three ordinary neighbors supernatural abilities.
However, these are not the polished, controllable powers of classic comic book heroes. Eun Chae-ni, Son Kyung-hoon, and Kang Ro-bin become what the show calls “defective superheroes.” Their powers are flawed, unreliable, and difficult to use when they want to. Instead of making their lives better, these problematic abilities complicate everything. They are forced to team up, not for glory, but to deal with a villain who starts to threaten the peace of their hometown.
The series does not frame superpowers as blessings or predetermined fates, but rather as disturbances, disruptive changes that do not move people’s lives forward but make them more complicated.
Adding to the mystery is Lee Woon-jeong, a strict and socially awkward civil servant who has just moved to Haeseong City from Seoul. He becomes involved in investigating a series of strange disappearances happening in the city, crossing paths with the new superheroes. Another key figure is Ha Won-do, a man who appears cool and rational but may be hiding dark desires.
The Main Cast and Their Characters
The show features a talented mix of veteran actors and popular stars.
- Park Eun-bin plays the lead role of Eun Chae-ni. Park is best known globally for her award-winning performance as Woo Young-woo in Extraordinary Attorney Woo. In The Wonder Fools, she portrays a bright but unpredictable woman whose life is turned upside down by her new powers.
- Cha Eun-woo takes on the role of Lee Woon-jeong. A popular K-pop idol with the group ASTRO and a seasoned actor from dramas like True Beauty and Island, this marks his first leading role in a Netflix original series.
- Kim Hae-sook plays Kim Jeon-bok, Eun Chae-ni’s grandmother. A respected veteran actress with decades of experience in film and television, her character runs a well-known local restaurant and is Chae-ni’s only family.
The group of “defective” superheroes is rounded out by two more actors.
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- Choi Dae-hoon (One Dollar Lawyer) plays Son Kyung-hoon, described as a constant nuisance at the Haeseong city hall.
- Im Sung-jae (Hellbound) plays Kang Ro-bin, who is labeled as the biggest pushover in town.
Finally, Son Hyun-joo (The Good Detective) plays the mysterious Ha Won-do, a character who adds significant tension to the story.
The Creative Team Behind the Scenes
The series is guided by a director and writers with impressive track records in creating beloved and complex characters. The director is Yoo In-sik, who is famous for directing the heartfelt and popular drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo, which also starred Park Eun-bin. His skill in building deep character connections is expected to be a major part of The Wonder Fools.
The screenplay is written by Heo Da-joong, who worked on the script for the hit comedy film Extreme Job. Adding to the creative power is Kang Eun-kyung, the writer behind the Netflix horror series Gyeongseong Creature, who is serving as the show’s creator. This combination suggests the series will blend character-driven comedy with moments of darker tension and moral complexity.
Production Status and 2026 Release Window
Official production on The Wonder Fools was confirmed by Netflix in a November 2024 announcement that revealed the main cast. According to production updates, filming for the series began on October 22, 2024, and was completed on May 22, 2025. The project is now in the post-production stage, which includes editing, visual effects work, and sound design.
While Netflix has not announced a specific premiere date, multiple sources confirm the series is scheduled for release sometime in 2026. Some reports suggest a release in early or spring 2026 is most likely. As with all Netflix originals, the series will be released worldwide on the same day, with subtitles and dubbing available in numerous languages.
How The Wonder Fools Fits Into Netflix’s K-Drama Strategy
The Wonder Fools continues Netflix’s strong investment in Korean superhero and supernatural stories. The platform has found success with similar K-dramas like The Uncanny Counter, The Atypical Family, and the recent hit Cashero, which also features heroes with unconventional power systems. This new show fits into a broader trend of streaming services creating successful superhero stories that are not based on Marvel or DC Comics, such as The Umbrella Academy and The Boys.
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By setting the story in 1999 and focusing on the personal struggles of its characters, The Wonder Fools aims to offer a different kind of superhero experience. It explores themes of community friction, personal responsibility, and the anxiety that comes with sudden, uncontrollable change. The show asks a simple but compelling question: What happens when the people who get superpowers are the least prepared to handle them?
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