Maggie Kang, creator of 'KPop Demon Hunters', rejects a live-action film: “It would feel too earthly. “It wouldn't work for me.”

Despite the interest of Netflix and Sony in expanding the 'KPop Demon Hunters' universe, Kang has been clear: she wants to continue in the field of animation

Since its premiere in June 2025, 'KPop Demon Hunters' has become a global phenomenon. The animated film, available on Netflix, has broken audience records and has conquered both K-pop fans and animation lovers. However, Its creator, Maggie Kang, has made it clear that she has no intention of bringing the story to live-action format. “There are so many elements of tone and comedy that are made for animation,” he recently told the BBC, according to Variety. “It's hard to imagine these characters in a real world. It would feel too earthy. It wouldn't work for me.”

'KPop Demon Hunters' tells the adventures of Huntr/x, a K-pop girl group that, in addition to succeeding on stage, secretly fights demons. The protagonists face the Saja Boys, a boy band rival who hides his true demonic nature. The story, which mixes humor, action and music, has been celebrated for its originality and vibrant visual style. Kang, who co-wrote and co-directed the film with Chris Appelhans, has insisted that the animated format is essential to conveying the essence of the story.

Appelhans agrees with Kang in his rejection of live-action. “One of the wonders of animation is that you can create characters with impossible attributes,” he explained. “Rumi can be a clumsy comedian, sing, do a spinning kick, and then fall from the sky, all in seconds. Animation allows you to elevate the possible. When adapting anime to live action, it often feels stiff.”

'KPop Demon Hunters', the most viewed movie in Netflix history

The success of the film has been resounding. It has become the most watched in the history of Netflix, and Its soundtrack has made Billboard history: four songs from the album simultaneously ranked in the top 10 of the Hot 100.and the lead single, 'Golden', has been at number one for eight consecutive weeks. Additionally, a karaoke version of the film was released in theaters in August and grossed $18 million in a single weekend.

Despite Netflix and Sony's interest in expanding the KPop Demon Hunters universe, Kang has been clear: she wants to continue in the field of animation. And not only that, but expressed his desire to further explore the stories of Zoey and Mira, Rumi's Huntr/x companions. “We've left a lot of questions unanswered. This was Rumi's story, but we have material to develop Zoey and Mira's pasts. We wrote some scenes, but they didn't fit into this 85-minute film.”

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The creator has demonstrated a firm commitment to the tone and style of her work. For her, animation is not only an aesthetic tool, but a way of narrating that allows an expressive freedom that is difficult to replicate in real action.. “The comedy, the exaggeration, the rhythm… everything is designed for this medium,” he explained. And he added: “I don't want that magic to be lost by trying to fit into a more conventional format.”

The future of 'KPop Demon Hunters' looks bright, but true to its roots. Although a sequel has yet to be officially confirmed, talks are underwayand Kang has shown enthusiasm to continue developing the Huntr/x universe. “There is a lot to tell, and we want to do it well,” he said.

'KPop Demon Hunters' is available on Netflix and continues to generate conversation on social networks, where lFans celebrate their style, their characters and their music. In a landscape saturated with adaptations and franchises, Maggie Kang's decision to keep her work in the field of animation is a declaration of principles: preserving creative identity in the face of commercial pressures.