‘Maybe Happy Ending’: Why the New K-Drama Romance Is Poised to Be 2025’s Biggest Streaming Hit

Broadway Welcomes “Maybe Happy Ending”: A Futuristic Romance With Darren Criss at the Helm Curtain rises on a five-year Korean hit After racking up six Korean Musical Awards and a Richard Rodgers Award, the sci-fi love story Maybe Happy Ending has landed on Broadway, bringing its poignant tale of two discontinued HelperBot 3 units to the Belasco Theatre. The English-language premiere stars Emmy and Golden Globe winner Darren Criss (Glee) opposite breakout talent Helen J. Shen under Tony-winning director Michael Arden. What’s the plot? • Setting: near-future Seoul in a robot retirement complex • Heroes: Oliver and Claire, outdated service androids who still dream in vinyl records and faded postcards • Conflict: With battery packs failing and corporate support long gone, they risk one last surge of power to discover whether love is ever obsolete Key production facts • Music: Will Aronson • Book & lyrics: Hue Park • First Seoul run: 2016, Daehaeng Theatre • Previous U.S. berth: Alliance Theatre, Atlanta (2020) • Broadway opening: Spring 2025 limited engagement, Belasco Theatre Why the buzz is building 1. Star power: Criss’s Broadway return draws both theatre-goers and the Glee fan base. 2. Genre mash-up: Think Her meets Once, mixing retro acoustic ballads with synth-pop hooks. 3. Award momentum: Early previews sparked Tony chatter for Original Score and Leading Actor. Early reviews praise the “heart-achingly human” robots for capturing modern anxiety about connection in an A.I. age. Ticket and schedule details • Performances: 8 shows weekly, Monday dark • Rush & lottery: $45 digital lottery opens 9 a.m. day-of • Running time: 2 hrs, 15 min including one recharge—er, intermission • Age guidance: 10+ for mild language and existential dread How to score the best seats Weeknight mezzanine seats under $79 sell out quickest; weekend orchestra premium tops $249. Sign up for the show’s wait-list and emailed promo codes before dynamic pricing spikes closer to Tony nominations. Cast & creative team at a glance • Oliver – Darren Criss • Claire – Helen J. Shen • Gilbert (maintenance drone) – Eddy Lee • Director – Michael Arden (Parade) • Choreography – Jennifer Weber (KPOP) • Set design – Anna Louizos (In the Heights) Songs audiences are Shazaming 1. “Why Love?” – an 80s-flavored duet questioning romance algorithms 2. “When You’re in Love” – ukulele-driven earworm already at 500k streams on Spotify 3. “Battery Low Lullaby” – Oliver’s bittersweet solo that closes Act I SEO Q&A Section Is Maybe Happy Ending appropriate for kids? Producers recommend ages 10 and up; there’s no adult language beyond PG level, but themes of mortality may be intense. How long will Darren Criss stay with the show? Criss is contracted through the first 16-week run, with extension options aligned to Tony voting windows. Will there be a cast album? A live Broadway cast recording is scheduled for late summer digital release, pending union approvals. Bottom line Between its quirky premise, star-driven marketing, and heartfelt score, Maybe Happy Ending is poised to become Broadway’s must-see spring romance. Grab tickets now before demand—and prices—skyrocket as awards season heats up.