EXCLUSIVE: ReelShort, the microdrama service based in L.A., has set a date on the next instalment of its popular Bound By… romantic drama franchise

Bound By Love will debut in two weeks on May 28 on the ReelShort app, and we’ve got exclusive artwork above and a poster below.

The vertical drama series is based on Cora Reilly’s USA Today bestselling novel of the same name, and stars Rhett Wellington and Savannah Coffee.

The first instalment of the Bound By… franchise, Bound By Honor, has amassed more than 400 million views on ReelShort. The sequel series is based on similar – and familiar – concepts of love, loyalty and betrayal, once again set in the mafia underworld.

Here’s the plot synopsis: “Aria navigates an arranged mafia marriage with Luca, one that begins with her winning his love, but is ultimately tested when she secretly helps her sister escape that life, betraying him in the process. With their families now at war and a baby on the way, Aria must decide whether love can survive when loyalty is paid for in blood.”

The influence of ReelShort continues to grow, with Business Insider yesterday reporting that Peacock has begun licensing microdramas from the platform, as the major streamers experiment with vertical video offers.

ReelShort is owned by Chinese microdrama giant Crazy Maple Studios, which is part owned by COL Group, the owner of other vertical video apps such as FlareFlow.