2025. 10. 24. 10:05ㆍDramas
Coming this November 2025, Disney+ unveils its new Korean drama The Manipulated (조각도시), a series remake of the 2017 hit film Fabricated City. The story returns with deeper psychological layers and nerve-wracking tension, building a full-scale revenge saga.
Essential info
The Manipulated is a Disney+ Original Korean series premiering on November 5, 2025. The season has 12 episodes: four drop on Day 1, followed by two episodes every Wednesday. Co-produced by CJ ENM, Studio Dragon, and Simplex Films, the show streams exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu.
Plot — A life fabricated, a revenge in pieces
An ordinary man, Tae-jung (Ji Chang-wook), is suddenly framed for murder and sent to prison. When he discovers the entire case was meticulously engineered, he sets out to hunt down the mastermind Yohan (Do Kyung-soo) who shattered his life. The series isn’t just about a wrongful accusation; it visualizes how a human life and emotions splinter into “pieces,” unfolding as a taut psychological pursuit.
Cast & Characters
- Ji Chang-wook as Tae-jung, a man whose life collapses overnight under a false charge.
- Do Kyung-soo as Yohan, the architect pulling the strings behind Tae-jung’s downfall—marking Do’s first full-fledged villain role.
- Lee Kwang-soo, Jo Yoon-su, Kim Jong-soo, and more join to heighten the tension and emotional stakes.
How it differs from the original
While the 2017 film Fabricated City centered on tightly plotted action, The Manipulated expands into series form to dissect emotional shifts and the complex psychology of revenge. If the film explored the mechanics of “fabrication,” the drama probes the theme of “fragmentation,” delving into the inner moments when a person breaks.
| Category | Fabricated City (2017) | The Manipulated (2025) |
| Format | Feature film (126 min) | Drama series (12 eps) |
| Theme | A reality rigged by the system | An interior, “broken-into-pieces” revenge saga |
| Leads | Ji Chang-wook, Shim Eun-kyung | Ji Chang-wook, Do Kyung-soo |
| Platform | Theatrical release | Disney+ / Hulu exclusive |
Direction & Creative team
Co-directed by Park Shin-woo (TV: The Killing Vote) and Kim Chang-ju (Film: Hard Hit), with screenplay by Oh Sang-ho (TV: Taxi Driver, Film: The Roundup: Punishment), the series promises high craft and relentless momentum.
Streaming schedule
- Premiere: November 5, 2025 on Disney+ (same day on Hulu)
- Release pattern: 4-episode launch → 2 episodes weekly (Wednesdays) thereafter
Why it’s a must-watch
- Explosive face-off between Ji Chang-wook and Do Kyung-soo
- Broadened storyline that heightens immersion beyond the film
- Disney+’s first full-throttle Korean revenge thriller push
This winter, Disney+’s The Manipulated crafts a razor-edged tale of vengeance and justice—fueled by sharp dialogue, a tight plot engine, and Ji Chang-wook’s signature emotional intensity.
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