Following the success of its inter-country Korean drama, Can This Love Be Translated, and the manga-adapted LGBTQ film 10Dance, Netflix is tuning the experiment a few notches up. The streamer is now walking a new blend of romance, scenic frames, and yet another star-studded cast lineup to an anticipation-worthy launch. 

Countries and genres, and even souls, collide in this upcoming Netflix number, which is close enough to release to not be a ruse. 

Expanding its Originals roster, Netflix is bringing Soul Mate to the platform, coming May 14, 2026, as per What's on Netflix. Being a Korean-Japanese collaboration, Soul Mate brings household names Ok Taec-yeon and Hayato Isomura to play the two lovers around whom the series will revolve. The show will span 8 episodes, following the meeting and bonding of a lamenting Ryu Narutaki and a Korean boxer named Johan Hwang. 

It is being noted for its story that will travel through the cities of Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo. 

Netflix has strung in faces and expertise familiar with the platform as well. Isomura, who previously appeared on the cancelled show Alice in Borderland, and Ok Taec-yeon, who played Jang Jun-woo in the Vincenzo. In addition, Hashizume Shunki, who is responsible for the well-received LGBTQ slice-of-life More Than Words, has written and directed Soul Mate, per What's on Netflix.

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However, Netflix seems to have commitments beyond finding a Soul Mate. 

Netflix is spending part of 2026 dedicated to expanding its Japanese platter. While being met with intrigue for its combination of nations and stars, Soul Mate will, in fact, come after the Japanese series Sins of Kujo and Straight to Hell. These are set to release on April 2 and April 27, respectively. 

Shows Viral Hit, Human Vapor, S&X, Plastic Beauty, Did Someone Happen to Mention Me, and Quiztopia will drop around the release of Soul Mate. Viral Hit is scheduled for May 28, while release dates for the others are not yet known. 

Soul Mate is also reminiscent of Netflix’s 2024 film18x2 Beyond Youthful Days, mirroring what seems to be its blue-tinted and part grim, part sunny frames filmed across Taiwan and Japan. With what the circulating synopsis of the show says, perhaps it will be just as soul-bearing as well, come May 14, 2026. 

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Will you be watching Netflix’s new LGBTQ drama Soul Mate? Let us know in the comments.