Benjamin Lee 

KPop Demon Hunters sequel confirmed at Netflix: ‘This is only the beginning’

The streamer’s biggest film of all time, also nominated for two Oscars, is getting a follow-up
  
  

A still of three cartoon women from KPop Demon Hunters
A still from KPop Demon Hunters. Photograph: PA

A sequel to record-breaking hit KPop Demon Hunters has been officially confirmed at Netflix.

The film will again be a collaboration between the streamer and Sony with Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the writer-directors, returning.

“I feel immense pride as a Korean film-maker that the audience wants more from this Korean story and our Korean characters,” Kang said in a statement. “There’s so much more to this world we have built and I’m excited to show you. This is only the beginning.”

Kang and Appelhans have also signed an exclusive writing and directing deal with Netflix.

In an interview earlier this month, Appelhans said of sequel reports: “I’ve seen a lot of comments on YouTube interviews that have been voted right to the top that say something along the lines of, ‘If there’s going to be a sequel, let them cook. Don’t rush it. We can all wait.’ The audiences are so media savvy now. They don’t know the animation pipeline per se, but they have sort of spoken in the sense of if we make it great, they’ll be there.”

A reported release date of 2029 is believed to be too soon given the extensive work required on a film such as this.

Bela Bajaria, the streamer’s chief content officer, praised the first film for igniting “a global fandom that crossed languages, generations, and genres”.

The animated adventure, about a demon-hunting music trio called Huntrix, was originally made by Sony Pictures before being released on Netflix as part of a first-look deal. It became a runaway success after it was launched on the platform last summer, becoming the most-watched original film in Netflix history.

It was also given a singalong theatrical release in August becoming Netflix’s first ever number one film at the US box office.

The film was also nominated for two Oscars, for original song and animated film, at this Sunday’s ceremony. There will also be a special performance of nominated song, and number one hit, Golden.

 

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