KPop Demon Hunters co-director Maggie Kang says the “big idea" for the sequel is solidified a month after Netflix announced they’ve green lit a second film.
Kang made the comment during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea on Wednesday (April 1) which was held to celebrate the Academy Award win for the hit Netflix animated film.
“We have the big idea locked in," she said per The Korea Herald. “But that's all I can give you.”
Kang also added that the sequel will be “bigger and more eventful” than the original, though she declined to reveal further details.
Co-director Chris Appelhans was also cautious about specifics, especially when asked whether the fan-favorite character Jinu of the Saja Boys might return.
“Jinu is alive in our hearts,” he said, drawing laughter. "Beyond that, I can't say.”
The event brought together Kang, Appelhans, singer-songwriter EJAE, and producers of The Black Label.
Appelhans noted that the sequel aims to repay that enthusiasm by offering surprises rather than repeating the same formula, while maintaining a strong commitment to cultural authenticity.
“The Koreanness is the soul of it," he said. "Being a part of my wife's family for 20 years taught me a lot about the different ways that [Koreans] show love, the different ways they deal with pain. That was eye-opening to me, and it's half my life now."
Kang, who is Korean-Canadian, added, “A lot of us who are straddling both cultures, like myself and EJAE, we are the ones who will be bridging that gap."
Last month, KPop Demon Hunters took home Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. Since its Netflix debut, the film has drawn over 500 million views, making it the most-viewed title in the streamer’s history.
Eight songs from the soundtrack landed on the Billboard Hot 100, including its breakout hit “Golden,” which became the first K-pop song to win both a Grammy and an Oscar.
Ahead of the Oscars, Netflix confirmed that a sequel for KPop Demon Hunters would be moving forward with Kang and Applehans at the helm.
No release date has been announced, and an earlier reported possibility of 2029 is considered unlikely given the long production timeline for a large animated film.
The original film, created in partnership with Sony Pictures Animation, follows K-pop superstars HUNTR/X who secretly work as demon hunters, protecting fans from supernatural threats while battling a rival boy band of demons known as the Saja Boys. Rumi, who serves as HUNTR/X’s leader, harbors a painful secret that could compromise the group’s mission.
The original voice cast included Arden Cho, Ji-young Yoo, and May Hong, while singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami performed the songs for HUNTR/X.
The three artists were also recently named the first group to share the Woman of the Year honor at Billboard's Women in Music ceremony, an award previously given to solo artists such as Cardi B, Lady Gaga, and Doechii.
