Could KPop Demon Hunters be one of the next movies to get the live-action remake treatment, breaking up the lineup of upcoming Disney live-action remakes? KPop Demon Hunters follows the musical trio of Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoe (Ji-young Yoo), who, using the magical power of the namesake genre of music as well as weapons and martial arts, fight demons and protect humanity. However, Rumi’s secret demon heritage and unexpected truths about demonkind jeopardize the trio’s friendship and the world — unless they can all come together for one more song.
The animated fantasy adventure movie is still topping the charts on Netflix, and rumors are swirling about how the franchise could continue. During an interview with Forbes, KPop Demon Hunters co-director Maggie Kang revealed that she has pondered the possibility of a live-action KPop Demon Hunters movie, wondering if it is something the fans would want to see. Check out her comments below:
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? How would that go?
What This Means For KPop Demon Hunters
The Franchise Has So Much Potential
A live-action KPop Demon Hunters movie has potential, as the bread and ʙuттer of Netflix’s new hit is leaning into the stylistics of K-pop, blending the performances with action. The live-action movie doesn’t even need to be a remake, but a spinoff or sequel that just switches mediums for the sake of it. One thing is for sure: with KPop Demon Hunters at the top of Netflix and garnering overwhelmingly positive reviews, the demand for some kind of continuation is sky-high.
So, people would likely show up for the live-action KPop Demon Hunters, and with the ᴀssured fanbase created from its mᴀssive Netflix release, it might even warrant a theatrical run. In general, KPop Demon Hunters’ popularity opens a lot of doors for the franchise. There are several unresolved plot threads and ways that KPop Demon Hunters sets up a sequel, and after its initial success, Netflix will probably become comfortable investing even more in it. It is a series that potentially has the luxury of playing with storylines and mediums.
Our Take On Live-Action KPop Demon Hunters
KPop Demon Hunters 2 First, Please
However, I think KPop Demon Hunters should continue to push the envelope in animation, at least for a while. I, as much as anyone, don’t want to see the entertainment industry become entirely live-action remakes of already wonderful animated movies, and KPop Demon Hunters literally just came out and was embraced as a fresh and bold fantasy outing. While KPop Demon Hunters 2 hasn’t been confirmed, there are several storylines I feel like the creators should focus on addressing first, without the distraction of a new medium.
The story of Rumi’s parents and what her future relationship will be like with her adoptive mother Celine (Yunjin Kim) are at the top of the list, while a sequel could also continue to develop Huntrix’s relations with demonkind and Mira and Zoe’s arcs (since Rumi gets the most attention in the first movie). While KPop Demon Hunters venturing into live-action sometime in the future is another way for the series to break the rules of genre and medium, the gap between the original and the live-action iteration would be dangerously close at this point.
Source: Forbes
