From idol to immortal? Bae Suzy’s next K-drama role brings fangs to Disney+

Bae Suzy is ready to bite.

This will not be the soft, swoony hunger of a classic K-drama romance, where shy glances meet across coffee shops or rainy sidewalks. This will be older, darker, stitched with centuries of loss and longing. It is the hunger of a story that will take the nation’s sweetheart, the girl-next-door, the idol turned global star, and throw her into something far more dangerous.

In Delusion, Bae Suzy will become Song Jeong-hwa, a vampire who has watched decades slip by in silence, shutting herself away inside her crumbling world. This is how she has been leading her immortal life, half-asleep, half-alive, a creature drifting through time without touch or connection. Definitely not the usual charming lead we’ve grown used to.

However, when she hires a young painter, Yun Yi-ho, played by Kim Seon-ho, to capture her portrait, the past will claw its way back. Suddenly, it will not just be about survival. It will be about awakening, craving, and maybe, just maybe, surrender.

With a webtoon pedigree, a top-tier cast, and the full weight of Disney+’s global ambitions behind it, Delusion is already stirring up the K-drama scene. But will the world be ready to see Bae Suzy break her mold? And more importantly, will this immortal story satisfy an audience hungry for something unforgettable?

Scheduled for a 2026 release, Delusion is already generating buzz among viewers eager to follow every update and teaser that drops along the way. But beware. This one will not arrive to gently tug hearts. It will come to bite.

Bae Suzy’s evolution: from idol charm to immortal depth

An almost mythological quality permeates Bae Suzy's career arc. She first rose to fame as a member of the girl group miss A, where her effortless good looks, charisma, and stage presence won over audiences. Bae Suzy wasted no time launching a second, equally spectacular acting career.

She played the innocent love interest or the strong underdog in her early K-drama roles, leaning into her image of innocence. Dramas such as Start-Up and While You Were Sleeping established her as more than just an idol-turned-actress. Audiences began to see Bae Suzy’s rare ability to balance vulnerability with steel, to hold the camera’s gaze with more than just beauty.

With Delusion, she will hit a turning point. This will not be a lighthearted slice-of-life or a breezy romance. It will plunge into sorrow, longing, and the burden of eternal life, offering her a chance to step into a character demanding darkness, complexity, and restraint. She will be asked to let go of the last traces of her idol image and fully transform into a figure of tragedy and desire.

Internationally, Bae Suzy has long been seen as one of the most bankable faces in K-drama. With Delusion, she will have the chance to show she can lead an atmospheric and high-stakes drama that resonates globally.

For Disney+, that will be a critical move. For Bae Suzy, it will be a test of just how far she can stretch her craft.

The return of electric chemistry with Kim Seon-ho

When Bae Suzy and Kim Seon-ho first shared the screen in Start-Up back in 2020, fans were instantly hooked. Even though they were not cast as each other’s romantic endgame, the spark between them was undeniable.

Kim Seon-ho’s sharp yet vulnerable portrayal of Han Ji-pyeong became a fan favorite, and many viewers were left wishing they could see the two actors paired again, but this time with all the emotional weight and tension centered on their connection.

Delusion will grant that wish, though not in the way anyone expected. Here, they will meet not as young dreamers chasing ambitions but as beings burdened by the past, pulled together by forces neither fully understands.

Kim Seon-ho’s Yun Yi-ho will not just be a painter for hire. As his relationship with Song Jeong-hwa deepens, he will become entangled in her dark world, drawn to the pain and beauty that radiate from her immortal existence.

There will be a sharp thrill in watching this duo, whose on-screen chemistry is already proven, as they step into roles that push their dynamic into darker, more dangerous territory.

Fans will be eager to see if Bae Suzy and Kim Seon-ho can channel the same crackling energy that made Start-Up unforgettable, but this time in a setting where love might cost more than either character is prepared to pay.

Why Delusion could reshape Disney+’s K-drama ambitions

Disney+ has been steadily carving out space in the K-drama world, but Delusion will feel different. This will not be a breezy rom-com or a lightweight melodrama added just to pad the catalog. It is set to be a dark and stylish adaptation of a beloved webtoon, packed with a high-profile cast and guided by director Han Jae-rim, known for crafting tension and spectacle in projects like The 8 Show and Emergency Declaration.

Crucially, the original creator of the webtoon, Hongjacga, will also be involved in the production. This ensures that the adaptation will retain the spirit, complexity, and visual punch of the source material. Fans of the original webtoon will have reason to believe this series will honor the layered characters and gothic world they fell in love with on the page.

But a question hangs in the air. How far will Delusion go in staying true to its webtoon roots? Will it preserve the dark, adult themes that made the original stand out, including moments of intense violence, longing, and even scenes with 18+ undertones?

Adapting a beloved webtoon comes with its risks. There is always the challenge of compressing intricate storylines into a limited number of episodes without losing the slow-burn tension that fans expect.

For Disney+, balancing global audience expectations with the edge and grit of the source material will be a delicate act. Push too hard, and it may alienate more cautious viewers. Hold back too much, and it could disappoint the core fanbase that knows exactly how sharp this story can get. The possibilities are wide open, and that is exactly what makes Delusion such a fascinating risk.

What will make Delusion stand out is its fusion of genres. It will blend gothic romance, historical intrigue, supernatural thrills, and emotional drama, all under one roof.

This will be the kind of hybrid series that can attract multiple fanbases, lovers of vampire lore, K-drama romantics, period drama enthusiasts, and fans of darker, moodier storytelling.

If Disney+ pulls this off, Delusion could become one of the platform’s signature global hits, expanding its reputation as more than just the home of Marvel and Star Wars.

Ready to sink your teeth into Bae Suzy’s next chapter?

Delusion will not be just another K-drama arriving quietly on the streaming shelf. It will be a sharp-toothed promise, a series that dares to blend the familiar with the forbidden.

Disney+ is betting big that audiences are ready for something darker, sharper, and bolder. With Bae Suzy stepping into her most complex role yet and Kim Seon-ho matching her step for step, the stage will be set for a story that feeds on longing, regret, and desire.

For fans, the wait is already electric. Will Delusion deliver the aching romance and dark thrills its premise teases? Will it balance the weight of history, the pull of the supernatural, and the raw chemistry between its leads without losing its edge?

As the premiere date approaches, one thing will be clear: this will not just be about watching a vampire love story unfold. It will be about watching Bae Suzy redefine what K-drama can be, and seeing if she leaves us wanting more, even after the final bite.