Lisa to Lead Netflix Rom-Com, Marks Debut in Feature Films

• Lisa is going to appear in a Netflix rom-com inspired by Notting Hill.
• Her work, The White Lotus, TYGO, showcases how K-pop idols eventually evolve into a lucrative global, cross-industry IP.
• Lisa's influence is driving up tourism, with the "Lisa Effect" boosting interest in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

BLACKPINK's Lisa will be starring in a Netflix rom-com, marking a watershed moment in K-pop's global cultural scene. Netflix recently stated that the Thai rapper-singer-dancer will star in a Notting Hill-inspired romantic comedy, making this her first lead role in a feature film. As per some reports, the makers will bring Katie Silberman, who is best known for Set It Up, Booksmart, and Don't Worry Darling.

Sources point out that the idea for the project arose on the set of HBO's The White Lotus Season 3, where Lisa made her acting debut as "Mook" in early 2025. Both Lisa and executive producer David Bernad had a mutual liking for the 1999 film Notting Hill and therefore connected over it, which resulted in this venture. 

Reportedly, Bernad will produce the rom-com through Middle Child Productions, with Lisa serving as executive producer along with Alice Kang. The film's title and release date are yet to be made public. However, the project is expected to be influential for the BLACKPINK member as she leaps beyond music through a conventional Western platform. This development is simultaneous with her upcoming work TYGO, a Netflix Korean original action-thriller set in the Extraction world, which also casts Ma Dong-seok (Don Lee) and Lee Jin-uk. 

Lisa’s group BLACKPINK, which is one of the world's best-selling girl groups, will also release its third mini-album, Deadline, on February 27, 2026. The album, coupled with Lisa’s multimedia projects, will mark a watershed moment in the band's growing media strategy, which merges music releases and film roles into a single multinational brand drive.

Lisa’s Influence Drives Tourism and Global Visibility

Lisa's crossover reflects a larger commercial boom in K-pop and Korean culture. The genre's global reach is increasingly driving entertainment and content-driven travel. Singapore's tourism board, for instance, has extensively incorporated K-pop into its strategic development initiatives. The authorities revealed that K-pop events and cultural collaborations have helped substantially boost tourism receipts through 2025, with an increasing number of foreign tourists visiting and spending on similar kinds of trips. Similarly, in Thailand, the so-called "Lisa Effect" has resulted in record footfall at regional sights such as Udon Thani's Red Lotus Sea, with tourism officials predicting a peak visitor count in 2026.

Lisa’s Pop Stardom Grows into a Cross-industry IP Engine

Lisa's journey from music to main cinema roles exemplifies how K-pop stars are changing global media pipelines, not just as performers, but also as transmedia personalities. Her Notting Hill-inspired rom-com contract with Netflix is part of a larger streaming strategy that combines renowned pop stars with familiar genre templates, harnessing built-in global fanbases to promote viewing and cross-industry revenue streams.

At 29, Lalisa Manobal's flourishing portfolio, which includes chart-topping solo music, collective projects with BLACKPINK, and other additional endeavors, heralds a new era of K-pop cultural commercialization. This complex evolution is already having an impact on the global entertainment and related tourism market, which is further stimulated by her 2025 debut studio album Alter Ego and her prestigious role as "Amazing Thailand" tourism ambassador in 2026.