If there’s anything KPop Demon Hunters has proved this awards season, it’s that it has ascended to the summit of pop culture royalty, with creators Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans now making Oscar plans for their crew. Ahead of Hollywood’s biggest awards night, the duo talk animation quality and the upcoming 2029 sequel.
Netflix has struck gold with KPop Demon Hunters, and the proof is in the pudding this awards season. As of today, the animated film has swept multiple awards, taking home Golden Globes Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, and a Grammy award for “Golden” in the Best Song Written for Visual Media category. The show’s ascent is meteoric — just one short year ago, nobody knew what KPop Demon Hunters was, “Golden” did not exist, EJAE was not a household name, and there were no such things as Derpy and Sussie Funko Pops.
Fast forward nine months, and the world has succumbed to KPop Demon Hunters fever. Now, ahead of the Oscars — which is slated for March 16, 2026 — creator and director Maggie Kang and co-director Chris Appelhans have big plans for their crew.
The KPop Demon Hunters crew is headed to the 2026 Oscars
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the duo shared that they had secured extra tickets for the 2026 Oscars, an event often regarded as the biggest awards show in Hollywood. And having largely credited the success of the film to their crew, Kang and Appelhans agree that celebrations for said success should include them. “Every time I think about the crew, I just burst into tears,” Kang shares. “We got extra tickets, so we’re only inviting our crew to it; just as a reward and also so that we could all be there to celebrate, no matter what happens. They all deserve to be there.”
Notably, KPop Demon Hunters has been nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden” at the Oscars. And while its win is not guaranteed by any means, its significance in pushing the needle for Korean (and Asian) entertainment in the global sphere cannot be denied. Whether it secures the wins come Oscars night, one thing remains crystal clear: That Kang and Appelhans, having scaled the heights of Hollywood with their magnum opus, are still looking ahead to bigger, better things.
Key among them? The KPop Demon Hunters sequel, which is currently slated for a 2029 release.
‘Let them cook’
Asked about the upcoming sequel to KPop Demon Hunters, the duo maintained their secrecy with the ferocity of a Marvel executive protecting its next IP leak. However, fans of the film may find themselves waiting beyond 2029 for the next instalment, with Sony Pictures Animation heads recently suggesting a longer lead time.
Appelhans, however, does not seem fussed, citing audience reactions to the news and sharing, “I’ve seen a lot of comments on YouTube interviews that have been voted right to the top that say something along the lines of, ‘If there’s going to be a sequel, let them cook. Don’t rush it. We can all wait.”
Further highlighting the importance of time, especially in animated productions, Kang adds, “The diehard Spider-Verse fans really know that. They understand that level of artistry takes a really long time.” And while fans have little to speculate on where the KPop Demon Hunters sequel is concerned, the directors seem determined to push the envelope to not just replicate, but substantially improve upon the success of the first movie. Speaking to this, Kang affirms, “I think whatever we do next is going to be just pushing ourselves even more than what we did with this movie.”
A runaway success
Since its release in June 2025, KPop Demon Hunters has shattered streaming records and won numerous accolades. However, its success hasn’t merely been limited to the silver screen. Notably, the series has inspired unprecedented toy and collectible deals, Halloween costumes, and countless celebrity covers. Most importantly, it has amplified the careers of all involved, from EJAE, who worked on the music for the shows and was the singing voice of Rumi and Ken Jeong, who voiced Bobby, to Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, who have now become red carpet icons in their own rights.
Propelled by the massive tour de force that is its predecessor, KPop Demon Hunters 2 will have an uphill battle to fight with critics. But if the Kang and Appelhans play their cards right, it could very well be the next rung in the ladder for Korean entertainment, further bridging the divide between Hollywood and the East.
(Main and featured image: Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Netflix)
This article first appeared here
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
