Netflix has confirmed that a sequel to the animated hit KPop Demon Hunters is officially in development, following the film’s record-breaking success on the platform.
No release date has yet been announced. The news comes as critics predict that the original film could win an award at the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday. The film is nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.
The track “Golden”, one of the film’s standout songs, has already won a Grammy Awards prize for Best Song Written for Visual Media, marking the first time a K-pop song has won in that category.
“This Is Only The Beginning”
The original film follows the characters Rumi, Mira and Zoey, members of the fictional K-pop group Huntr/x, as they navigate global fame while secretly working as demon hunters.
In the announcement, director Maggie Kang expressed pride in the global reception of the story. “I feel enormous pride as a Korean filmmaker that audiences want more of this Korean story and our Korean characters,” she said.
“There is so much more in the world we’ve built, and I can’t wait to show it to you. This is only the beginning.” Singer Ejae, who voices the character Rumi and co-wrote the hit song “Golden,” told the BBC last month that she hopes the sequel will explore more musical styles from South Korea.
“It depends on what they create, but I hope we can show more sides of Korea,” she said. “There are so many genres of music in Korea, and that’s what I personally hope for.” She added that the response to the film’s animation and soundtrack has been overwhelming.
“There’s so much happening that I’m still trying to process it. It’s crazy,” she said. Netflix has not yet revealed further details about the sequel. The original film took seven years to complete, from the initial concept to its release.
A Global Cultural Phenomenon
Since its release last summer, KPop Demon Hunters has become a global cultural phenomenon and the most-watched animated film in Netflix history, breaking platform records.
In January, Netflix said the film had surpassed 480 million views within six months. The production blends English dialogue with Korean cultural references, food, symbols and language, highlighting its South Korean influences while appealing to international audiences, particularly in the United States.
The film also won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the Golden Globe Awards. At this year’s Oscars, it will compete in the Best Animated Feature category alongside titles such as Zootopia 2 and Elio.
Meanwhile, the song “Golden” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of the biggest crossover hits connected to the film.