At this point, it's not a question of if, but when Netflix will announce a sequel to KPop Demon Hunters. The CG-animated musical action-fantasy film, which debuted in June, has become the second-most popular Netflix original ever with no signs of slowing down.
Last month, there were reports that Netflix is looking to develop two more sequel movies, as well as a potential live-action adaptation. Nothing official has been announced as of yet, but we know it's only a matter of time.
And it appears that KPop Demon Hunters creator and co-director Maggie Kang already has some ideas for a potential sequel. Last month, Kang mentioned she is "always" thinking of ideas for a sequel, noting there are still some questions from the first movie that were left unresolved.
She didn't go into specifics at the time; however, in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Kang alluded that a future sequel could flesh out HUNTR/X's backstories. Although the beginning of KPop Demon Hunters briefly delves into the lineage of demon-hunting singers, we meet HUNTR/X at the height of their fame.
"We were trying to do a non-origin origin story with a concept that's brand new to people," Kang revealed. "What is it about these girls that brought them into HUNTR/X and made them demon hunters? What is each of their backstory? How did they get chosen? What is that journey like?"
Kang explained that there wasn't really enough time to fully explore each character's background story in-depth. "There was really not a space for the movie to show all that," she explained. "So we really had to make these choices of what is essential to the story, and that is the information that we will show."
"I think that was one of the hardest things we kept getting asked: 'Please show us this.' 'I think the audience is going to want to know this or that,'" Kang continued. "We just made decisions to be like, 'Nope, that is not essential to this story for this movie, and maybe that can be shown some other time.'"
Given the success of KPop Demon Hunters, it sounds like the inevitable sequel will allow them to reveal more of that backstory.
KPop Demon Hunters was developed and produced by Sony Pictures Animation, but the studio sold the distribution rights to Netflix under a 2021 output deal. While Sony retains the right to produce follow-up films, Netflix reportedly controls sequels, spin-offs, and the lucrative music tie-ins.
When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira, and Zoey aren’t selling out stadiums, they’re using their secret identities as demon hunters to protect their fans from ever-present supernatural danger. Together, they must face their biggest threat — an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise.
Netflix is celebrating the success of KPop Demon Hunters and its incredible soundtrack with a limited-run theatrical release. A special sing-along version of the movie is set to hit theaters across the United States, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand this weekend.