No, it’s not happening.
Netflix’s animated blockbuster KPop Demon Hunters has become the streaming giant’s biggest hit of the year, but its creators are pushing back hard against the idea of turning it into a live-action franchise.
Following the movie’s massive success, reports surfaced that Netflix was already exploring sequels and even a live-action adaptation. But co-director Maggie Kang, who created the hit film, told the BBC she’s not on board. “There are so many elements of the tone and comedy that are so suited for animation,” she said, adding that a live-action version would “feel too grounded” and lose its charm.
Her co-director, Chris Appelhans, agreed, saying that what makes KPop Demon Hunters special is the exaggerated, impossible energy that only animation can capture. “In animation, you can have a character be a comedian one moment, then pull off a spinning back-kick the next,” he said.
Despite Hollywood’s obsession with adapting animated classics like The Lion King and Lilo & Stitch for live-action audiences, the creators argue that such projects miss the point. For them, the magic of KPop Demon Hunters exists only in its original animated form—just as you can stream it now on Netflix.
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