Tantara Netflix Release Date: Song Hye-kyo, Gong Yoo Dec. 11

Netflix gave Tantara a premiere date on Thursday: December 11, a Friday, 50 days after the announcement. The period drama stars Song Hye-kyo and Gong Yoo, and it marks writer Noh Hee-kyung's return after more than four years, the Korea Times reported. The Korea Times report did not list an episode count or a director.

Soompi describes the setting as the "reckless and merciless" Korean entertainment industry of the 1960s through the 1980s, where people with almost nothing bet everything on a dream of stardom. Song plays Min-ja, who works a string of jobs after a childhood of poverty and finds her way into the record business. Gong plays Dong-gu, her childhood friend, who helps her chase it. Seolhyun, the former AOA member, plays Min-hui, who has a love-hate relationship with Min-ja while pursuing her own success. Cha Seung-won plays Seok Gil-yeo, the greatest composer of his era, a man who can turn any rookie singer into a star. Lee Hanee plays Yang-ja and Na Moon-hee plays Mal-soon.

The new posters put the main characters on a turntable. Min-ja and Dong-gu appear as children and again as adults working as waiters on the way to becoming rookie managers. Min-hui sings. Gil-yeo plays the saxophone. Yang-ja sings passionately, and Mal-soon's gaze reflects the years that have passed, according to Soompi's description of the artwork.

One day after the date announcement, Song's new agency made news of its own. On October 23, STAND said it had signed an exclusive contract with the actress and released new profile photos. "We are honored to be working with Song Hye Kyo," the agency said. "We will provide our full support so that she can focus on her projects and acting. We will stand firmly by her side in all her activities, both in Korea and abroad, including her acting projects." Soompi's report on the signing named no project beyond Tantara, which it described as the series she is gearing up for.

Noh wrote two earlier dramas starring Song, Worlds Within (2008) and That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013), and later wrote Our Blues (2022). US viewers know Song from Netflix's The Glory, and Gong from Train to Busan and Squid Game. Tantara sets both leads inside the story of the people who built the Korean music business from the ground up.

Song parted ways with UAA in June after about 14 years. She signed with STAND on October 23. Tantara arrives December 11.