According to a report from The Fair on February 28, Disney+ is currently changing its schedule with the aim of releasing its original series Elimination in the first half of 2026. The project had previously been suspended indefinitely.
Elimination is a large-scale production depicting the story of a man who becomes the king of the counterfeit goods market during the IMF financial crisis. With a reported production budget of around 60 billion won (around $45 million), the series was one of the platform’s most ambitious Korean originals. However, production was suspended in March last year following controversy over the lead actor’s personal life, and the project’s release was effectively put on hold without a set date.
Industry sources now suggest that Disney+ has begun re-evaluating the series as part of its broader restructuring of its 2026 content lineup. Analysts point to Kim Soo Hyun’s still-powerful global fan base and the substantial financial loss that would come from shelving a big-budget production as key factors influencing the reconsideration.
Attention is also on the next corporate IR (investor relations) briefing, scheduled for early March, where the remaining filming schedule and streaming strategy for Elimination can be discussed. The possibility of a revival of the project has already triggered movements in entertainment-related stocks, further fueling speculation.
Some industry insiders interpret the move as a strategic decision by Disney+ to directly address potential risks rather than absorb a massive loss. A source noted that the atmosphere surrounding Kim Soo Hyun’s return seems to be “gradually thawing”, adding that if Elimination is officially mentioned at the platform’s lineup presentation in early March could become one of the entertainment industry’s biggest talking points in the first half of the year.
Accordingly, the fate of Elimination is now closely linked to Kim Soo Hyun’s potential full-scale comeback, with both fans and industry observers watching closely to see whether the high-profile project will finally mark the actor’s return after a year of uncertainty.
Sources: Daum
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