Huntr/x is heading to the big screen for real this time. KPop Demon Hunters 2 is set to get a full theatrical release, according to a new report from The Hollywood Reporter, which says now-departed Netflix film chief Dan Lin helped secure the deal before his exit.
The detail came yesterday (October 20th) in a larger report about why Netflix parted ways with Lin earlier this week. According to the trade, Lin pushed co-CEO Ted Sarandos to embrace theaters further during his tenure, and while the final decision belonged to Sarandos, Lin helped lock in full theatrical releases for the sequel. The report notes that the move has not been officially announced.
Sarandos Already Hinted At A Big Release
Netflix has not formally announced the plan, but Sarandos made the streamer's intentions pretty clear a few weeks ago. Speaking at Bloomberg Screentime in Los Angeles at the end of last month (September 30th), he explained that Netflix is now sorting its films by where they fall between art house titles and big family movies.
"We're going to do a big wide release for Narnia next year, and then we'll do a big wide release for Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory at the end of the year. We think they'll do great, and when the KPop Demon Hunters sequel comes, you can expect a very broad theatrical release," Sarandos said.
He later added that films with the potential for a very big upside in theaters are the ones that will get the widest launches. "So, for Narnia, for KPop Demon Hunters, that's why they're gonna get big, broad, global release," he said.
Why The First Movie Changed Netflix's Thinking
The original KPop Demon Hunters, produced by Sony Pictures Animation and directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, premiered directly on Netflix in June of last year. It became the streamer's most-watched original movie ever, racking up 325.1 million views in its first 90 days, and it has spent 63 straight weeks in Netflix's Global Top 10. It also went on to win two Oscars in March, taking Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for "Golden," which became the first K-pop song to win in that category.
The movie's theatrical potential became obvious two months after its streaming debut. A sing-along version opened at No. 1 at the box office with an estimated $19 million over just two days, even though AMC sat it out. Netflix brought it back to theaters again for a few days around Halloween last year.
Netflix spent years keeping theatrical runs to the bare minimum needed for awards eligibility, so seeing one of its own animated movies top the box office on a weekend was a big moment. It is hard to imagine a sequel to its biggest movie skipping theaters after that.
Netflix's Growing Theatrical Slate
KPop Demon Hunters 2 is part of a wider shift for the streamer. Netflix is giving Cannes winner La Bola Negra its most robust theatrical release to date and is even reporting box office numbers for it. Greta Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician's Nephew is set for an exclusive run of about seven weeks in theaters early next year, and the animated Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory is getting a wide release in late 2027.
Lin's departure comes during a broader shake-up of Netflix's content leadership, which also saw chief content officer Bela Bajaria let go last week. The Hollywood Reporter notes that a commitment to more theatrical releases could be a deciding factor in who replaces him.
What We Know About KPop Demon Hunters 2
Netflix and Sony officially confirmed the sequel in March, with Kang and Appelhans returning to write and direct. It is the first project under the pair's new exclusive multi-year writing and directing deal with Netflix across animation.
"There's so much more to this world we have built and I'm excited to show you. This is only the beginning," Kang said in a statement at the time.
Plot details are still under wraps, though Rumi, Mira and Zoey are all set to return. The sequel is expected to arrive in 2029, so fans have a wait ahead before they can see Huntr/x on the big screen. Appelhans has said fans have made it clear they want the team to take its time and get it right.
Would you rather see KPop Demon Hunters 2 in theaters first, or would you prefer it go straight to Netflix like the original?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.