Sony Executives Dash Hopes for 'K-Pop: Demon Hunters 2' Before 2030
The studio aims to replicate ‘Spider-Verse’ success with the sequel, but warns that the ambitious scope means a wait until the next decade.
Summary
- Sony Pictures Animation has indicated that K-Pop: Demon Hunters 2 is unlikely to release before 2030
- Executives Kristine Belson and Damien de Froberville cite the desire to meet the high technical and storytelling standards set by the Spider-Verse franchise
- Fans have expressed concern that the long hiatus could cause the core audience to “age out” of the franchise
The chart-topping demon hunters are taking an extended hiatus. Despite the massive success of the original film, Sony Pictures Animation has confirmed that the highly anticipated sequel to K-Pop: Demon Hunters is facing a significant delay. In recent interviews, studio executives dispelled rumors of a 2029 release, suggesting that fans likely won’t see the group reunite on screen until 2030 or later.
The delay is driven by ambition rather than trouble. Sony Pictures Animation presidents Kristine Belson and Damien de Froberville have explicitly compared the project’s trajectory to Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, aiming to expand the universe with complex world-building and innovative animation techniques. The creative team intends to dive deeper into the lore of the demons and the rival “Saja Boys” group, a task that requires years of development. Compounding the timeline is the current awards season; with directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans occupied by campaigns for the Oscars and Golden Globes, actual production cannot fully commence until the “noise” settles.
While the studio explores options to keep the IP alive through shorts or other media, the news has sparked frustration among the fanbase, with many worrying that the target demographic may move on during the half-decade gap. For now, the hunt is on hold.
