The animated fantasy film KPop Demon Hunters is officially getting a sequel. Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation confirmed this week that a follow-up film is now in development, ending months of speculation about the future of one of the streaming platform’s biggest hits.

Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans will return to both write and direct the new film. According to the announcement, the sequel is targeting a release in 2029 and marks the start of a new multi-year creative partnership between the filmmakers and Netflix focused on animation.

The original film introduced audiences to a fictional K-pop girl group whose glamorous public lives hide a secret identity. When they are not performing for packed stadiums, the trio protect their fans from supernatural threats, battling demons that threaten the world behind the scenes of the music industry.

That unusual blend of music, fantasy and action turned the film into an unexpected global phenomenon when it debuted on Netflix.

The story’s central characters, Rumi, Mira and Zoey, formed the group Huntr/x and quickly became fan favorites. Their mission to fight supernatural forces while navigating the pressures of global pop stardom gave the film a distinctive tone that resonated with audiences across different regions and languages.

Kang, speaking after the sequel was confirmed, reflected on the response the story received worldwide.

“As a Korean filmmaker, it means a great deal that audiences want more from this Korean story and these Korean characters,” she said. “There is still so much left to explore in this world. For us, this is only the beginning.”

Filmmakers Return To Expand The Story

Plot details for the sequel have not been revealed yet, but Appelhans indicated that the next film will push the characters further as the story continues.

“These characters have become like family to us,” he said. “Their world has become a second home, and we’re excited to write the next chapter and see how they grow.”

The announcement arrives at a moment of heightened attention for the original film. KPop Demon Hunters is nominated for best animated feature and for original song at the upcoming Oscars ceremony, giving the project renewed visibility.

Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the movie first premiered directly on Netflix through a licensing arrangement between the companies. The film later expanded beyond streaming when Netflix organized special sing-along theatrical screenings during fan events in late 2025.

Those screenings added to the film’s growing cultural footprint, which Netflix executives say helped turn the title into the most widely watched film in the platform’s history.

Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, credited the filmmakers with building a story that traveled far beyond its original audience.

“With KPop Demon Hunters, Maggie and Chris didn’t just reach viewers,” Bajaria said. “They created a global fandom that crosses generations and cultures.”

Netflix Film chairman Dan Lin described the project as a creative risk that ultimately connected with viewers worldwide.

“At Netflix, our goal is always to make someone’s favorite movie,” Lin said. “This film managed to do exactly that.”

Sony Pictures Animation leadership also signaled strong support for the sequel. Studio presidents Kristine Belson and Damien de Froberville said the company remains committed to helping the filmmakers continue expanding the story’s world.

For now, the next chapter of KPop Demon Hunters remains early in development. But with the original film still drawing attention and awards recognition, the announcement confirms that the musical fantasy universe is far from finished.