It’s a shame what has happened with this series — or rather, what hasn’t happened at all. If there’s queerbaiting involved, I won’t be watching even a single episode. It’s quite disappointing to see a story that was promoted as a romance between two men who are soulmates take such a clear turn into a simple friendship.
Considering Alice in Borderland Season 3 is set to release in late September, it’s possible Netflix Japan might be strategically holding Soul Mate until after the hype dies down. This would allow them to give it a proper marketing push, possibly aiming for a November or December premiere, taking advantage of the holiday streaming boom and keeping Hayato Isomura fresh in the public’s mind.
Honestly, at this point, looking at the current situation, I don’t think Soul Mate will just “drop” on Netflix without any promotion. With two high-profile actors like Hayato Isomura and Ok Taecyeon, it would be a waste to release it quietly. My guess is that Netflix has decided to delay the premiere to give it a proper marketing campaign — probably closer to the end of the year or even early next year.
Right now, the complete silence (no trailer, no posters, no social media updates) feels intentional. It’s possible they’re either fine-tuning the post-production or reworking their marketing strategy to maximize its impact. Considering the themes and the fact that neither actor has headlined an LGBTQ+ drama before, Netflix Japan might also be planning a careful rollout to avoid unnecessary controversy and to ensure the series reaches the widest possible audience.
In short: I see this as a strategic delay, not a cancellation. The quieter the pre-release phase, the louder the eventual premiere might be. Stay positive!
One possible reason for the delay and lack of promotion could be censorship. While Hayato Isomura has appeared in a LGBTQ+-themed series before, neither he nor Taecyeon has played a main role in a production with explicit LGBTQ+ themes. Their agencies might have requested edits to protect their image, leading to cuts of certain scenes. This kind of self-censorship has happened in other Asian productions, and it could explain why Netflix has been so quiet about Soul Mate.
Possible reasons why Soul Mate has low promotion and no confirmed release date yet:
-Netflix may be using a “silent promotion” strategy, revealing trailers and dates only days before release. -Internal schedule changes could have delayed the launch, despite the August 2025 announcement. -Content review for lgbtq+ themes across multiple regions might be taking longer than expected. -Possible straightwashing or toned-down intimacy for certain markets. -Japanese Netflix Originals often have more flexible, shifting timelines. -Competition with other August releases might have led to a strategic delay.
I’m still hoping for a sudden release in the coming days 🥺
To be honest, I don’t believe the series is simply about two good friends sharing a soul mate bond. I’m sorry, but to me, that would be a rather underwhelming and somewhat simplistic plot that doesn’t truly align with the premise of the series. Just my opinion, but I feel “Soulmate” should carry a romantic storyline at its core.
Why have they removed the lgbtq+ label from mdl? in my country, netflix still keeps the lgbtq+ label. The best thing would be to wait until you see the final product, and then question if it falls into the category or not..
Ryu accidentally injures his best friend—also a professional hockey player—so badly that it ends his career for good. Overwhelmed by guilt and judged by everyone around him, Ryu escapes to another country. But things only get worse when, in the middle of his sorrow and guilt at a church, a fire suddenly breaks out. That’s when Johan appears and saves him. Once they’re safe, Johan is completely captivated by Ryu... like love at first sight.
Also, Johan might have been staying in Germany for an international competition, since he’s a boxer. So, one way or another, Ryu and Johan will eventually have their first goodbye—only to meet again later. Considering they’ve known each other for ten years, that seems pretty likely.
I’ve waited so long for this series, I could practically predict the plot (actually, no). 🥺
https://www.studiodragon.net/en/ir/activities/
Also, yesterday when I was checking Netflix, the series appeared as “it's official, it will premiere.”
Right now, the complete silence (no trailer, no posters, no social media updates) feels intentional. It’s possible they’re either fine-tuning the post-production or reworking their marketing strategy to maximize its impact. Considering the themes and the fact that neither actor has headlined an LGBTQ+ drama before, Netflix Japan might also be planning a careful rollout to avoid unnecessary controversy and to ensure the series reaches the widest possible audience.
In short: I see this as a strategic delay, not a cancellation. The quieter the pre-release phase, the louder the eventual premiere might be. Stay positive!
-Netflix may be using a “silent promotion” strategy, revealing trailers and dates only days before release.
-Internal schedule changes could have delayed the launch, despite the August 2025 announcement.
-Content review for lgbtq+ themes across multiple regions might be taking longer than expected.
-Possible straightwashing or toned-down intimacy for certain markets.
-Japanese Netflix Originals often have more flexible, shifting timelines.
-Competition with other August releases might have led to a strategic delay.
I’m still hoping for a sudden release in the coming days 🥺
Also, Johan might have been staying in Germany for an international competition, since he’s a boxer. So, one way or another, Ryu and Johan will eventually have their first goodbye—only to meet again later. Considering they’ve known each other for ten years, that seems pretty likely.
I’ve waited so long for this series, I could practically predict the plot (actually, no). 🥺