Creator Behind Netflix’s Most Popular Film of All Time Rules Out Rumored Remake

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Though HUNTR/X recently appeared together on *Saturday Night Live*, a live-action version of *KPop Demon Hunters* isn’t happening. The animated film was a massive hit in 2025, becoming Netflix’s most popular original ever and achieving Platinum status for its soundtrack. Often called “Netflix’s *Frozen*,” the movie is already getting sequels, but reports of a live-action remake have been dismissed.

Maggie Kang, co-director of *KPop Demon Hunters* and the creator of the story, recently told the *BBC* she doesn’t believe a live-action version of the film would be successful. She explained that the movie’s unique style and humor rely heavily on animation. Kang also noted that live-action adaptations of animated projects, particularly anime, often result in characters losing the expressiveness they have in their original animated form.

The show’s humor and overall style lend themselves perfectly to animation. It’s difficult to picture these characters working in a live-action setting – it would feel too realistic and wouldn’t capture the same magic. Animation allows us to combine incredible, even impossible, qualities in a single character. For example, Rumi can be a funny comedian one moment, then effortlessly sing and perform a complex acrobatic move the next, and even fall from the sky! That’s the wonderful thing about animation – it lets you go beyond what’s normally possible. I’ve noticed that when adapting anime into live-action, it often feels a bit forced and unnatural.

‘KPop: Demon Hunters’ Doesn’t Need a Live-Action Remake


Netflix

When news spread that Netflix might create a live-action version of *KPop Demon Hunters*, many fans reacted negatively. A common concern was that this trend of remaking animated shows as live-action often feels like it doesn’t appreciate animation. While just a rumor, it wasn’t surprising considering Netflix has already adapted popular animated series like *One Piece*, *Avatar: The Last Airbender*, and *Cowboy Bebop* into live-action, with mixed results.

For over ten years, Disney has been at the forefront of turning its classic animated movies into live-action films. Although the movie *Snow White* didn’t perform as well as expected, the huge success of the live-action *Lilo & Stitch* – earning over $1 billion globally – has prompted Disney to focus on remaking more of its recent animated hits. Plans are already underway for a live-action *Moana* in July 2026, and Scarlett Johansson is being considered to play Mother Gothel in a *Tangled* remake. Now, DreamWorks Animation is joining the trend, with a live-action remake of *How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World* scheduled for release in June 2027.

Although a live-action version of *KPop Demon Hunters* isn’t planned, Netflix has brought the show’s music to life. The singers behind the band HUNTR/X – EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, who voice Rumi, Mira, and Zoey – performed their song “Golden” on *Saturday Night Live* on October 4, 2025. With “Golden” being a strong contender for the Best Original Song Oscar this year, many are hoping the group will perform at the 98th Academy Awards.

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2025-10-13 23:48