Soul Mate Premiere Finally Set: Netflix Confirms Release Date for Long-Awaited LGBTQ+ Mini Series
After years of wondering, waiting, and asking, “Did Netflix forget about this show?”, we finally have answers. Netflix has officially confirmed the Soul Mate premiere, and yes, it’s really happening. The long-awaited mini series starring Hayato Isomura and Ok Taec-yeon will premiere on May 14, and honestly, it feels a little surreal to be typing those words.
We first told you about Soul Mate back in June 2024, when Netflix announced the series was on its way. At the time, excitement was high, expectations were even higher, and then… absolutely nothing. No updates, no release window, no teasers, not even a vague “coming soon.” For nearly two years, the question of when this series would finally see the light of day echoed around our office (and our group chats). Was it still happening? Had it quietly disappeared into the Netflix void? Thankfully, the answer is no. Soul Mate is real, it’s coming, and it’s almost here.
The confirmation of the Soul Mate premiere feels especially sweet given Netflix Japan and South Korea’s growing presence on our rainbow radar. After 10Dance and The Boyfriend caught our attention, we’ve been keeping a close eye on the platform’s Asian LGBTQ+ storytelling, and Soul Mate looks poised to deliver something tender, sweeping, and emotionally devastating in the best way possible. We’re fully expecting this mini series to break our hearts, gently stitch them back together, and then maybe crack them open one more time just for good measure.
Written and directed by rising filmmaker Shunki Hashisume, Soul Mate tells an expansive LGBTQ+ love story that unfolds over the course of a decade. Hayato Isomura stars as Ryu Narutaki, a man who leaves his life in Japan behind in search of something more, while Ok Taec-yeon plays Johan Hwang, a boxer whose own struggles and vulnerabilities shape the connection they share.
The series follows the two men across Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo, using physical distance as both a narrative and emotional force. It’s a story about timing, longing, and the kind of love that lingers even when life pulls people in different directions—themes that resonate deeply within queer storytelling. Executive producer Dai Ota has described Soul Mate as a “destiny story,” one where people from different cultures meet in a foreign land and find their lives permanently changed.
Part of the early buzz around Soul Mate came from its casting alone. Taec-yeon, a member of K-pop group 2PM with an extensive acting résumé, has spoken about being drawn to Johan’s inner pain and complexity, even undergoing intense boxing training to fully embody the role. Isomura, one of Japan’s most respected actors, has shared how deeply the script moved him, particularly its portrayal of love existing alongside sadness and hardship.
Now that the Soul Mate premiere is officially set for May 14, we can finally stop guessing and start counting down. So save the date, folks, clear your schedules, and get ready to follow Ryu and Johan’s love story, because after all this time, it deserves to be felt in full.
Soul Mate will premiere on Netflix on May 14. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: Image Courtesy of Netflix.
