May Premiere Picks: 10 New Releases to Help You Through the Mid-Year Slump

One hundred and twenty-one days and counting down, two hundred and forty-four-four to go! As the second quarter of 2026 reaches its midpoint, EnVi has your back with a set of films and series to keep you company through the busy month. Whether you’re (hopefully) in the midst of spring cleaning or you need the perfect distraction in between cramming for exams, we have the perfect picks just for you! 

Swapped – May 1

For his first project following his historic Oscar win for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Michael B. Jordan returns with the animated adventure-comedy film Swapped. Directed by Nathan Greno (Tangled), the story revolves around a small woodland creature, Ollie (Michael B. Jordan), who unexpectedly swaps bodies with Ivy (Juno Temple), a majestic bird, and his sworn enemy in the fictional world known as The Valley. As the two animals begin to see the world from a different vantage point, they team up for what will be the wildest adventure of their lives. 

Enemies with Benefits – May 3

Leading the slate of GMMTV’s 2026 GL (girls’ love) series is the upcoming romantic-comedy Enemies with Benefits, which offers a fiery start to the promising lineup. Adapted from the web novel of the same name by Snow Leopard, the series focuses on the tense workplace rivalry between Lallalin (Jan Ployshompoo Supasap), the Head of Sales, and Wine Vetaka (JingJing Prariyapit Yu), the Head of Accounting. As a result of their differing work styles, the pair develops a mutual aversion for each other, but that all changes after a drunken hookup.  

My Dearest Assassin – May 7

In Netflix Thailand’s first action-romance drama, Baifern Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul and Tor Thanapob Leeratanakachorn take center stage as they fight for freedom, family, and revenge. Directed by Kui Taweewat Wantha, the upcoming film My Dearest Assassin centers on Lhan (Baifern), a young Vietnamese girl who has been hunted since childhood because of her rare blood type. 

Following the brutal murder of her parents by the merciless treasure hunter Pruek (Toni Rakkaen), Lhan is saved by Poh (Chai Chartayodom Hiranyasthiti) and taken to Thailand. Upon arrival, it is revealed that he is the leader of a secret assassin clan known as House 89. Over the course of several years, Lhan finds solace in her newfound family, growing particularly close to the house’s heir, Pran (Tor). After years of not knowing why she was saved, the twisted truth is finally revealed when Pruek discovers Lhan’s whereabouts. Although Pran is trained and tasked with protecting her, Lhan refuses to sit idle. Led by vengeance, the once timid girl requests to be officially trained as an assassin.   

Love Is Never Gone – May 8

Aside from its exciting cast lineup, the upcoming Filipino romance-thriller drama Love Is Never Gone draws attention as the first teleserye to be filmed in Morocco. Directed by Emmanuel Palo and Jojo Saguin, the story follows Teo (Joshua Garcia), a hardworking man who moves to Morocco for work. The relocation was meant to be simple, as he planned to work hard and return with the appropriate funds to pull his family out of poverty. However, his ambitions were disrupted after he was conned by Yana (Ivana Alawi). 

After tracking her down and learning about her motivations, Teo begins to sympathize with Yana, but that shift in emotion proves to be a mistake. Knowing nothing outside of her life of crime, Yana ultimately ends up betraying Teo, which leads to his wrongful imprisonment in Morocco. Following the end of his sentence, Teo returns to the Philippines only to discover that the woman who double-crossed him is now living an elite lifestyle under the pseudonym Gem.      

My Royal Nemesis – May 8

Following his first leading role in A Hundred Memories, Heo Nam-jun stars opposite Lim Ji-yeon (The Glory) in the upcoming SBS drama series My Royal Nemesis. Written by Kang Hyun-joo (Lost in Starlight) and directed by Han Tae-seob (Cheer Up), the romantic comedy centers on the notorious Joseon-era villainess Kang Dan-shim (Lim), who is transported to the 21st century. During her time in the Joseon dynasty, Kang lived as a first-rank concubine and earned a negative reputation for her cunning nature. After being poisoned by the villagers, she awakens in the body of an unknown actress in the year 2026. As she walks the streets of modern-day Korea in a daze, Kang crosses paths with the callous chaebol Cha Se-gye (Heo). If she thought she was ruthless, during her time, Cha surely has her beat. 

Song of the Samurai – May 9

On February 25, 2026, it was announced that HBO Max had gained exclusive streaming rights to Song of the Samurai, a live-action adaptation of the popular manga series Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem by Shinya Umemura and Eiji Hashimoto. 

Set against the backdrop of Kyoto in the late Edo era, the tense narrative focuses on the samurai police force known as the Shinsengumi. For seven years, the group passionately defended the Tokugawa shogunate despite its looming collapse. Offering a more intimate look into their lifestyle, the story spotlights Toshizo Hijikata (Yuki Yamada), a street fighter turned samurai who forms a complex bond with Isami Kondo (Nobuyuki Suzuki) and Soji Okita (Kanata Hosoda). As the effects of war begin to emerge, the companionship formed between the trio is jeopardized. 

CrazyLove-MooMoo – May 9

The wait for BossNoeul’s third project is almost over! Following the release of The Boy Next World, Thai actors Boss Chaikamon Sermsongwittaya and Noeul Nuttarat Tangwai (or Noeul Lee) mark a return with the upcoming romantic comedy series CrazyLove-MooMoo. 

In a more humorous role than he’s played before, Boss portrays Hai Fu, the eldest son of a Thai-Chinese family who hopes to win the heart of his classmate, Moo. Unimpressed by his ‘clean boy’ image, Moo consistently pushes back on all of Hai Fu’s advancements. It appears that their union will never come to be, but during his internship at Hai Fu’s family hotel, Moo begins to see his pursuer in a new light. 

The Legend of Kitchen Soldier – May 11

When there’s a webtoon to be adapted, Park Ji-hoon will always be there! Directed by Jo Nam-hyung (Tale of the Nine Tailed), the upcoming comedy series centers on Kang Seong-jae (Park), who joins the military to escape poverty. At his first post, he was a top performer, but after being transferred, he was newly labeled as a soldier “under special observation.” Ironically enough, his new identifier leads him to be overlooked — that is, until he unlocks a mysterious virtual quest only he can see. Through a series of prompts, Kang quickly improves his cooking skills and rises through the ranks.  

Soul Mate – May 14

Transcending the constraints of time, land, and sea, the upcoming Japanese live-action series Soul Mate by Shunki Hashizume illustrates the story of two people who share an inexplicable bond. After ruining the life of someone dear to him, Ryu Narutaki (Hayato Isomura) flees Japan and finds a new escape in Berlin, Germany. In the midst of adjusting to life in a foreign country and grappling with guilt, Ryu finds himself caught in a fire while visiting a local church. The event, although unfortunate, doesn’t end in death, as Ryu is saved by Johan Hwang (Ok Taec-yeon), a Korean boxer. This hectic chance encounter that could’ve ended in disaster marks the beginning of a new life for both Ryu and Johan.  

Image courtesy of Netflix Japan

I Love Boosters – May 22

Eight years after making his directorial debut with Sorry to Bother You (2018), rapper and songwriter Boots Riley marks a return with I Love Boosters on May 22. Inspired by the 2006 B-side track of the same name by his group The Coup, the crime-comedy film follows a group of shoplifters or boosters who target a cutthroat fashion maven. 

At the center of the narrative is Corvette (Keke Palmer) and her two friends, Sade (Naomi Ackie) and Mariah (Taylour Paige), who are infamously known as the Velvet Gang. Working as modern-day Robin Hoods, they spend their time scouring the Bay Area, stealing high-fashion items, and reselling them to their local community at lower prices. After taking on smaller operations, Corvette and her crew set their sights on burglarizing the prominent fashion businesswoman Christine Smith (Demi Moore). Adding to their near-perfect system is Jianhu (Poppy Liu), a Chinese defector who was previously employed at one of Christine’s factories. With a mysterious teleportation device in tow, Jianhu joins forces with the Velvet Gang to fight the underbelly of capitalism. 

 Ready to expand your watchlist even more? Check out our April Premiere Picks article!