In a recent interview with ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, director Bong Joon-ho revealed that his Parasite TV show is still happening, and not only that, but it looks like it could be amazing. Bong is well-known for directing movies like Snowpiercer and Mickey 17, but his biggest claim to fame would be his 2019 film Parasite. A thriller comedy, the movie follows a South Korean family who infiltrate their way into working for a nearby wealthy family, only to stumble upon dark secrets. Parasite won the Palme d’Or at that year’s Cannes Film Festival, and also snagged Best Picture at the Oscars.

After the success of Parasite in 2020, it was announced that HBO was developing a Parasite TV series with Adam McKay and Bong attached as executive producers. This announcement came early in the year, a month before the movie won big at the 2020 Oscars. Apparently, Parasite already had enough hype around it to merit a series. Five years later, very little has been revealed about the Parasite TV series, but a recent interview with Bong has confirmed that the show is still happening and this is what it will look like.

HBO’s Parasite TV Show Is Not A Remake Or A Direct Sequel (And That’s Great)

Why A Parasite Sequel Would Be A Bad Idea

When the Parasite TV show was first announced, many ᴀssumed that the series would be a sequel to the movie or an expanded remake. Mainly, this idea came from a quote Bong gave in 2020 about how he still had “key ideas” about Parasite stored in his iPad, and that the show would be like “a six-hour-long film,” (TheWrap.) However, McKay later confirmed that the series would exist in the same world as Parasite but would follow its own original story, (HappySadConfused.) This spinoff format is the best case scenario for the Parasite show.

As much as Parasite was amazing, a direct sequel may not work as well. For the most part, this is because Parasite was made to be a standalone movie. The story of the Parks and the Kims came to a conclusive end. Trying to continue that story would feel ingenious at best and arbitrary at worse. On the other hand, a spinoff allows the showrunners to continue building on the themes Parasite established with a new set of characters who have a different story to tell.

I Was Scared About A Parasite TV Show, But Bong Joon Ho’s Idea Sounds Amazing

When To Expect The Parasite TV Show

Turning a standalone film into a franchise can be a risky task, but based on Bong’s comments, the Parasite TV show seems to have a lot of potential. The ideas Bong has been storing away were originally intended for the Parasite movie, and if their quality is of the same caliber as what premiered in 2019, then the show will be amazing. Furthermore, the concept of a six-hour-long movie sounds incredible coming from Bong, whose movies are heavily detailed and rife with important messages.

The only downfall of the Parasite TV show is that viewers will have to wait a while for it. Although Bong confirmed that it is still happening, he noted that audiences would have to keep waiting, as the writers continued chipping away at it. Based on his comments, it seems like it has been a tough but rewarding creative process. Thus, if audiences are missing Parasite, they may want to rewatch the movie rather than wait for the show.