KPop Demonhunters Creator Is Already Saying ‘No’ to a Live Action Remake

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The team behind the animated series *KPop Demon Hunters* has stated they don’t want to create a live-action version. Directors and writers Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans explained that the story’s style, visuals, and speed work best as an animated show.

Reasons Offered Against Live Action

Maggie Kang explained in a BBC interview that several aspects of *KPop Demon Hunters*—especially its blend of comedy, fantasy, and musical numbers—would be difficult to adapt into a live-action format.

Honestly, as a fan, I completely agree with her! Thinking about these characters brought to life in a realistic way just doesn’t feel right. It would lose all the magic, and I don’t think it would work at all for me. It needs to stay animated!

Chris Appelhans agrees, explaining that animation lets characters do incredibly unrealistic things without seeming strange. He points to examples like characters singing while flying or doing quick kicks in the air – actions that would look awkward or unnatural with real actors.

Appelhans noted that animation’s strength lies in its ability to go beyond the limits of reality. He pointed out that many anime adaptations into live-action films often feel awkward or unnatural because of this difference.

Performance and Success of the Original Film

Since its debut in June 2025, *KPop Demon Hunters* has become the most popular movie ever on Netflix. It earned an impressive 325.1 million views over 91 days, breaking the records of all other Netflix films and series.

The film’s music was also a big success. The album broke records by getting four songs into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the lead single, “Golden,” held the No. 1 spot for several weeks. A special version of the film designed for audience sing-alongs earned around $18 million in just one weekend.

The game’s popularity quickly led to discussions about how to build on it, with ideas ranging from follow-up games to movies or even theatrical productions.

Future Plans Focused on Animation

Although Kang and Appelhans don’t plan to make a live-action version, they’re interested in continuing the story of *KPop Demon Hunters* using animation. Kang explained that the first movie focused on Rumi’s story, and there’s potential to explore characters like Mira and Zoey, or other ideas that didn’t make it into the film due to time limitations.

She explained that certain character backgrounds and plot points were intentionally left out of the film because they simply didn’t fit within the 85-minute time limit.

Okay, so the buzz is definitely building – I’m hearing from sources that Netflix and Sony are chatting about a follow-up to this film. But, and this is a big but, nothing is official yet. Don’t expect to see a live-action sequel confirmed anytime soon – it’s all just talk for now.

Implications and Industry Relevance

The creators’ choice highlights a thoughtful approach to how stories are retold. Instead of feeling animation *needs* to become live-action, they seem to be protecting the unique qualities of the animated format itself. By saying no to a live-action version, they’re showing that staying true to the original style and feeling is more important than just trying to reach a bigger audience.

There aren’t currently any plans to make a live-action version of *KPop Demon Hunters*. People are likely to watch for news about animated sequels, short films, or other related projects first.

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2025-10-16 22:56