Since KPop Demon Hunters debuted on Netflix and took the world by storm, there has been much speculation about how the franchise, brimming with potential, will continue. While reports reveal that Netflix and Sony are in negotiations for a KPop Demon Hunters sequel, rumors have also been swirling about a potential live-action adaptation, given this trend’s popularity in Hollywood.
KPop Demon Hunters creator and co-director Maggie Kang previously commented on the possibility of a live-action take, sounding at least intrigued by the idea. Kang told Forbes in June 2025: “I really enjoyed [How To Train Your Dragon]. I was sitting in the theater thinking, I wonder if anybody would want to see a live-action KPop Demon Hunters. What would that be like?“
However, she has seemingly since changed her mind, now agreeing with some of the discussed potential problems with a live-action KPop Demon Hunters. In an interview with the BBC, Kang said: “It’s really hard to imagine these characters in a live-action world. It would feel too grounded. So totally it wouldn’t work for me.” Kang’s co-director, Chris Appelhans, further commented:
One of the great things about animation is that you make these composites of impossibly great attributes. Rumi can be this goofy comedian and then singing and doing a spinning back-kick a second later and then freefalling through the sky.
The joy of animation is how far you can push and elevate what’s possible. I remember they adapted a lot of different animes and often times, it just feels a little stilted.
KPop Demon Hunters follows a trio of K-pop superstars who moonlight as demon hunters. They are portrayed as goofy, relatable characters, often relying on exaggerated animation practices to convey their silliness. However, their friendship and mission are jeopardized due to the lead singer, Rumi (Arden Cho), keeping her own demon heritage a secret.
In addition to some of the movie’s best comedy coming across the best in animation, the medium is a tool to elevate the themes of connection through music and how the singers’ vocal powers work. Their performances and their fans’ passion fuel the Honmoon, a magical barrier that protects the world from demons, and which is a striking visual throughout the movie.
In live action, this element, as well as the demons, would probably all require a certain amount of CGI, with results that could be very tacky. Animation allows for KPop Demon Hunters’ world and musically-driven action sequences to be more fantastical, which is difficult to imagine in live-action, though Disney has repeatedly tried to make it work with a lot of CGI characters.
Kang also importantly points out: “It would feel too grounded.” This underscores that part of KPop demon Hunters’ appeal is its whimsical tone, which carries a resonant and serious story, maintaining a careful balance in themes. However, making something more serious by remaking it in live-action, traditionally regarded as the more prestigious medium, does not work for every piece of art.
Live-action remakes continue to proliferate in Hollywood because they are proven box office heavy hitters, bringing fans of beloved properties out in droves. A live-action KPop Demon Hunters would probably see these results. However, Kang and Appelhans are choosing to keep working within the medium they believe is best suited to the story.
- Release Date
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June 20, 2025
- Runtime
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96 minutes
- Director
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Chris Appelhans, Maggie Kang
- Writers
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Hannah McMechan, Chris Appelhans, Maggie Kang, Danya Jimenez
