Credit: Netflix
Netflix has confirmed that Physical: Asia , the latest installment in its hit survival competition show, will premiere worldwide on October 28th. The streamer also released a teaser poster and trailer, showcasing the show’s expanded scale and its first-ever nation-vs.-nation format.
Eight countries—Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Türkiye, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines—will send 48 elite athletes to compete in grueling physical challenges with their national flags on the line.
The poster sets the tone with a blazing sun over sweeping sand dunes and a crimson flag whipping in the wind, signaling the start of an epic physical war.
The trailer begins with Korean MMA veteran Kim Dong Hyun (nicknamed “Stun Gun”) vowing, “There’s no way we can lose to Japan.” His declaration, followed by heated exchanges between the two countries like “We absolutely must beat Japan” and “After all, we need to win too,” sets up a fierce Korea-Japan rivalry. Among the matchups teased: Asian CrossFit champion Choi Seung Yeon squaring off against former Japanese national wrestler Nonoka Ozaki.
Credit: Netflix
The star-studded international lineup includes legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines, confidently promising victory, and former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker of Australia, roaring “I f**ing live here.”* Other contestants add to the fire with lines like “They better watch out, or they’re gonna get shipwrecked” and “If we lose, we don’t deserve to carry the flag.”
Signature “Physical” quests return in spectacular fashion—from brutal ball-grab melees to new large-scale challenges, including a shipwreck set piece and a fortress-like battleground. According to producer Jang Ho Gi, the team built sets spanning the size of five soccer fields, with 40 tons of steel, more than 1,200 tons of sand, and over 500 crew members involved in production.
“We spent nearly a year planning, developing, and testing quests,” Jang said. “A simulation team of over 30 participants, with builds similar to actual contestants, ran through every challenge to ensure safety and scale.” Calling it the franchise’s boldest installment yet, Jang added, “This season has stories and spectacles unlike anything audiences have seen before. The quests are more thrilling, the scale is massive, and the physical battles more intense than ever.”
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