Lee Chang-dong Makes His Netflix Debut With Possible Love: Cast, Plot, Release Date
Who’s in Possible Love, what’s it about, and when is it out — the big three every fan wants sorted?
Fresh off festival slots in Venice and Toronto, Lee Chang-dong’s first feature in eight years is getting a rare Netflix rollout: a limited theatrical run in the U.S. before it hits the service. It’s also the celebrated Korean filmmaker’s Netflix debut, a return that arrives after 2018’s widely acclaimed Burning.
The setup
Possible Love centers on two married couples whose lives collide across class lines. Mi-ok and her husband Ho-seok are reeling after he’s laid off. Ye-ji, a wealthy documentary filmmaker, and her husband Sang-woo move in very different circles—until Ye-ji starts shooting a film about laid-off workers, drawing the couples together and surfacing long-buried frustrations and desires.
Who’s in it
- Jeon Do-yeon — Mi-ok (The Housemaid; Kill Boksoon; most recently The Price of Confession)
- Sul Kyung-gu — Ho-seok (reuniting with Lee after Peppermint Candy and Oasis; also The Merciless, Hyper Knife, Good News)
- Cho Yeo-jeong — Ye-ji (Parasite; Hidden Face; Made in Korea)
- Zo In-sung — Sang-woo (Smugglers; It’s Okay, That’s Love; Moving; most recently Hope, 2026 )
Lee’s return
Known for taking his time between films, Lee said he wouldn’t start this project until he knew exactly what he wanted it to say. Speaking to Netflix’s Tudum, he explained the long gap since Burning.
“I’m not the type of filmmaker who can make movies easily. Before I begin a film, I must be certain of what it means — to me, to the audience, and to cinema itself. That is why Possible Love took so long to make.”
Before its wide release, the film was selected for the Competition section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival and invited to Special Presentations at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival.
Release plan
The movie opens in U.S. theaters on September 23, 2026, then streams worldwide on Netflix starting November 6, 2026.