Netflix confirms ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ sequel after record-breaking success

Netflix has announced that a sequel to its animated musical hit KPop Demon Hunters is in development, extending the platform’s collaboration with co-directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans.

The new project will be the first created under Kang and Appelhans’ new exclusive multi-year writing and directing deal with Netflix for animated content.

Record-breaking success

Released as a Netflix original film, KPop Demon Hunters became the platform’s most-watched film of all time. According to Netflix, the movie recorded about 482 million views within six months of its release.

The film’s lyric videos also attracted significant attention online, drawing around 32 million views. Its soundtrack continues to trend globally across streaming platforms.

Story of a K-pop girl group with a secret mission

Animated by Sony Pictures Animation, the musical fantasy film follows a fictional K-pop trio called Huntrix. The group’s members — Rumi, Mira and Zoey — live double lives as global pop stars and secret demon hunters.

The film blends action, fantasy and music, presenting a storyline where the performers protect the world from supernatural threats while maintaining their careers as chart-topping idols. Music played a major role in the film’s popularity. The song Golden, performed by lead vocalists EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

The track also made history by winning the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media, becoming the first K-pop song to receive a Grammy in that category.

Awards and Oscar nominations

KPop Demon Hunters also received significant recognition during the awards season. The film won Best Animated Feature and Best Song at the Critics Choice Awards.

It also secured awards for Best Animated Motion Picture and Best Original Song at the Golden Globes.

The film has also been nominated for two Academy Awards — Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. Director Maggie Kang said she feels proud that global audiences want more stories from the film’s universe.

She noted that the world created in KPop Demon Hunters has more stories to explore and expressed excitement about expanding the narrative in the upcoming sequel.

Chris Appelhans previously said that any sequel would require a clear creative direction from the beginning to ensure the story remains meaningful and engaging.

Netflix has not yet announced a release date for the sequel, but production development is now underway.