Netflix has officially announced a sequel to its record-breaking animated film KPop Demon Hunters, with directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans returning to helm the project. The follow-up marks the first endeavor under their new multi-year deal with the streamer for animated content. The original movie, which became Netflix's most-watched title ever, is nominated for two Oscars this weekend.
Netflix revealed on March 12, 2026, that a sequel to KPop Demon Hunters is in development, produced by Sony Pictures Animation. The announcement coincides with the film's strong awards momentum, including nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for 'Golden' at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15. 'Golden,' performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami as the singing voices for the group HUNTR/X, made history as the first K-pop song to win a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media.
The original film, released on June 20, 2025, follows Rumi, Mira, and Zoey—members of the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X—who balance fame with secret lives as demon hunters battling threats like the rival Saja Boys. Voiced by Arden Cho, May Hong, and Ji-young Yoo respectively, with supporting roles by Ahn Hyo-seop, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun, it amassed over 500 million views globally, surpassing previous records like Red Notice's 230 million.
Kang expressed, 'I feel immense pride as a Korean filmmaker that the audience wants more from this Korean story and our Korean characters. There’s so much more to this world we have built and I’m excited to show you. This is only the beginning.' Appelhans added, 'These characters are like family to us, their world has become our second home. We’re excited to write their next chapter, challenge them and watch them evolve—and continue pushing the boundaries of how music, animation and story can come together.'
Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria noted, 'With KPop Demon Hunters, Maggie and Chris didn’t just reach audiences, they ignited a global fandom that crossed languages, generations and genres.' A theatrical sing-along version in August 2025 grossed nearly $25 million domestically, marking Netflix's first box office number one. While no release date is set, reports suggest 2029, given the seven-year production of the first film. The soundtrack, streamed over 11 billion times, topped the Billboard Hot 100, fueling the cultural phenomenon that stan accounts are buzzing about as the ultimate slay for K-pop animation fans.
