The hit South Korean drama Descendants of the Sun is heading back to screens in a new Indonesian adaptation, with the remake scheduled for a theatrical release in 2027.
The Indonesian version has already completed filming and is currently in post-production, according to South Korean production company Next Entertainment World (NEW), which was also behind the original series.
The remake is expected to be released in cinemas in both Indonesia and South Korea next year. The project will bring the well-known story to a new setting while incorporating Indonesian culture and perspectives.
Acclaimed Indonesian filmmaker Hanung Bramantyo is directing the adaptation. The filmmaker is a two-time Best Director winner at the Indonesian Film Festival and has previously worked on another successful Indonesian remake produced by NEW.
Bramantyo directed the Indonesian version of Miracle in Cell No. 7, which became one of the country’s highest-grossing films.
The success of Miracle in Cell No. 7 helped strengthen NEW’s international co-production efforts. The film later received a sequel and an animated adaptation, encouraging the company to continue developing localized versions of its popular stories.
For the Descendants of the Sun remake, Indonesian actors Reza Rahadian and Dian Sastrowardoyo have been selected for the two leading roles.
The cast and director recently appeared together publicly for the first time at Ideafest 2026 in Jakarta.
The team introduced the project during a session titled “Descendants of the Sun, Localized: When Global Stories Find Local Souls,” highlighting the production’s focus on adapting the internationally recognized story for Indonesian audiences.
The original Descendants of the Sun premiered in 2016 and became a major success across Asia. The series centered on the relationship between a soldier and a doctor who face dangerous situations and personal challenges while working in an unfamiliar country.
Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo played the lead characters in the original South Korean drama, helping turn the series into one of the most widely recognized Korean dramas of its era.
The Indonesian remake will retain the core story while presenting it through a local cultural setting. The move also reflects the growing trend of adapting successful Korean entertainment properties for audiences in other countries.
With filming already completed, attention will now turn toward post-production and the eventual 2027 cinema release.
The Indonesian adaptation could also introduce Descendants of the Sun to a new generation of viewers while giving longtime fans an opportunity to experience the popular story from a different cultural perspective.
