The animated musical fantasy film, K-Pop: Demon Hunters , has officially been confirmed for a sequel by Netflix and Sony Pictures, following the original movie’s phenomenal, record-breaking global success on the streaming platform.
Sequel and Release Timeline
- Confirmation: Netflix and Sony Pictures have reportedly signed a contract to produce a sequel to the film, tentatively titled K-Pop: Demon Hunters 2 (based on the previous article’s reference).
- Release Date: The sequel is slated for a 2029 release.
- Reason for Delay: According to reports, this extended timeline was agreed upon after considering the typically longer production period required for animation projects, which often demand several years of work.
Record-Breaking Success of the Original Film
The decision to immediately greenlight a sequel is based on the massive success of the first film, which was released globally on Netflix in June 2024.
- Viewership Record: The movie recorded over 300 million views—the highest number of views for any Netflix film to date.
- Performance Bonus: As a reward for this outstanding global performance, Netflix paid a bonus of ₩21.9 billion KRW (about $15.0 million USD) to Sony Pictures.
- Total Profit for Sony: This latest payment brings Sony Pictures’ total profit from the project to a whopping $40 million USD. This is in addition to the original production cost of $100 million USD and an earlier payment of around $25 million USD received from the streaming platform.
Critical Acclaim and Soundtrack Success
Beyond views and financial performance, the film has also achieved critical recognition through its original soundtrack (OST).
- GRAMMY Nomination: The original soundtrack song “Golden” was nominated for a GRAMMY Award in the highly coveted “Song of the Year” category, further cementing the film’s status as a global phenomenon.
The sequel promises to further explore the world of the fictional K-pop girl group who secretly battle supernatural forces, building on the successful blend of K-pop, fantasy, and cinematic animation.
The confirmation of the sequel is a huge milestone for this franchise! It’s clear that the studios are heavily invested in the future of the K-Pop: Demon Hunters universe.
K-Pop: Demon Hunters (Credit: Netflix)
Since you’ve seen the news about the sequel, perhaps you would like to know more about the talented team who brought the original film to life.
Meet the Talent Behind ‘K-Pop: Demon Hunters’
The success of K-Pop: Demon Hunters is credited to its distinct visual style, engaging story, and the dual-layered talent that provided both the speaking and singing voices for the pop group HUNTR/X and their demon rivals, the Saja Boys.
The Demon-Hunting Girl Group: HUNTR/X
The trio of demon-slaying K-pop idols, Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, were brought to life by a blend of established and rising voice actors and real-life singers.
Character Speaking Voice Actor Singing Voice Artist Key Role
Rumi Arden Cho (Teen Wolf, Avatar: The Last Airbender Live-Action) Ejae (South Korean Singer) The lead vocalist and central protagonist, Rumi struggles with her half-demon heritage and the pressure of fame.
Mira May Hong (Shrill, Tales of the City) Audrey Nuna (American Singer) The main dancer, known for her rebellious spirit and fierce attitude.
Zoey Ji-young Yoo (Expats, Freaky Tales) Rei Ami (Korean-American Rapper) The group’s youngest member (Maknae) and powerhouse rapper, providing both humor and action.
The Rival Demon Group: Saja Boys
The film also featured a rival boy band of demons, the Saja Boys, voiced by notable talent from the K-drama and comedy worlds:
Character Speaking Voice Actor Key Role
- Jinu Ahn Hyo-seop (Business Proposal, Dr. Romantic) Leader of the Saja Boys and Rumi’s former friend.
- Gwi-ma Lee Byung-hun (Squid Game, G.I. Joe) The formidable demon king, the main villain plotting global domination.
- Bobby Ken Jeong (The Hangover, Community) The frenzied manager of the HUNTR/X girls, juggling tour logistics and demon emergencies.
Returning Directors for the Sequel
The sequel will likely maintain the unique vision of the original film, as Netflix and Sony have closed deals with the original directors to return:
- Maggie Kang
- Chris Appelhans
The directors have stated that the first film, at 85 minutes, had to leave many rich backstories (especially for Mira and Zoey) and plot points unexplored, which they are excited to delve into in the sequel.
The sequel, K-Pop: Demon Hunters 2, is officially in development for a target release in 2029.
BLACKPINK member Rosé made history with her multiple nominations for the upcoming 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards (for the 2026 ceremony), but the announcement immediately triggered a heated debate online regarding who was truly the “first Korean soloist” to achieve the honor.
Rosé secured three major nominations, including two in the coveted General Field (or “Big Four” categories) for her collaboration track “APT” with Bruno Mars :
- Record of the Year
- Song of the Year
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
This achievement makes her the first Korean artist to be nominated for one of the “Big Four” as a lead artist, and the first Korean solo act to earn multiple nominations in a single year.
The Core of the Debate: Rosé vs. Jo Sumi
BLACKPINK’s Rosé (Credit: Pinterest)
- The Claim for Rosé (The K-Pop Soloist Record): Viral accounts initially celebrated Rosé as the “first Korean soloist to earn a #GRAMMYs nomination.” This record is technically correct when specified as the first K-Pop soloist and the first Korean solo act nominated in a Major Field category.
- The Counter-Claim for Jo Sumi (The Korean Solo Singer Record): Many users immediately corrected the viral posts, pointing out that internationally renowned coloratura soprano Jo Sumi (조수미) was the first Korean solo singer to be nominated and win a GRAMMY, which she received in 1993. Her win was for Best Opera Recording for her performance in Richard Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten, conducted by Sir Georg Solti.
- The Clarification: Supporters of Rosé’s record clarified that while Jo Sumi did win in 1993, she was nominated and awarded as part of an ensemble or cast for the opera recording, which falls under the Classical Field. Rosé, by contrast, is the first to be nominated as a solo-credited artist in the General and Pop music categories, which are the awards most associated with the contemporary K-Pop industry.
Ultimately, the consensus among industry commentators is that while Jo Sumi was the first Korean person to win a GRAMMY, and in a non-popular category, Rosé’s nomination represents a distinct and historic first for the K-Pop genre and for a Korean solo artist in the Major Pop/General Categories.
The BTS Context and Media Play Accusations
The debate also reignited an older controversy surrounding the labeling of BTS’s initial historic nominations (beginning in 2021 for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance).
Netizens accused BTS’s agency (HYBE) and fan accounts of historically using the broad term “first Korean artist” nominated for a GRAMMY, when the more accurate and historical term would have been the “first K-Pop act” or the first act nominated in a Pop category.
This distinction, which often overlooked the prior achievements of classical artists like Jo Sumi and sound engineers like Hwang Byung-jun (who won in technical categories), led to accusations of “media play” intended to maximize the historical significance of the boy group’s nominations.
The discourse surrounding Rosé’s nomination has served to highlight the need for clear and specific historical terminology when discussing Korean achievements across the classical, popular, and technical fields at major international awards ceremonies.
