Surprise! Or not. KPop Demon Hunters—the most-watched Netflix movie ever, with the added bonuses of a smash-hit soundtrack album and two Oscar nominations—was inevitably going to get a sequel. But after months of speculation that goes back to very soon after the film’s release over the summer, it’s now officially official: KPop Demon Hunters 2 is going up, up, up.
IT’S OFFICIAL HUNTERS 💫 KPOP DEMON HUNTERS will return for a sequel written and directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans.
“I feel immense pride as a Korean filmmaker that the audience wants more from this Korean story and our Korean characters. There’s so much more to this… pic.twitter.com/QjxD9CV4Hw
— Netflix (@netflix) March 12, 2026
Sony Pictures Animation is back aboard for the sequel, as are the original film’s co-creators, Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. The latter duo have already said they’re well aware of the sky-high expectations they’ll need to live up to.
“I feel immense pride as a Korean filmmaker that the audience wants more from this Korean story and our Korean characters,” Kang wrote in the Netflix social media post. “There’s so much more to this world we have built and I’m excited to show you. This is only the beginning.”
If “this is only the beginning” intrigues you, take note: Variety writes, “The follow-up film kicks off Appelhans and Kang’s new, exclusive multi-year writing and directing deal with Netflix across animation.” There’s plenty of room in that deal, presumably, for additional KPop Demon Hunters-adjacent content, though what that might look like is just speculation at this point.
Variety also optimistically echoes the previously estimated release date of 2029 for KPop Demon Hunters 2, but the Hollywood Reporter takes a more cautionary tone, saying that 2029 is “unlikely given how many years it takes to make an animated project of this size. Kang and Appelhans are said to only be in the early stages and will turn their attention to the movie in earnest after awards season.”
KPop Demon Hunters will compete for best original song (“Golden”) and best animated feature at the Oscars on March 15; “Golden” will also get an on-stage performance, ensuring Huntr/x will be stuck in your head for at least another six months.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Read the full article here
