KPop Demon Hunters Live-Action Won’t Happen — Creators Explain Why Animation Is Essential
Creators Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans have said a live-action version of KPop Demon Hunters is not happening, while also indicating the animated project will continue. Speaking to the BBC, they explained that animation is essential to the story and tone.
No live-action adaptation
KPop Demon Hunters, the animated film about the demon-hunting K-pop girl-group Huntr/x, was released on June 20. However, the creators have pushed back on ideas of adapting it into live action. In that interview with the BBC, Maggie Kang said:
“There’s so many elements of the tone and the comedy that are so suited for animation,” Kang said. “It’s really hard to imagine these characters in a live action world. It would feel too grounded. So totally it wouldn’t work for me.”
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Why animation matters
Additionally, Appelhans described how animation allows the team to blend unusual traits and push visual limits. In his words:
“One of the great things about animation is that you make these composites of impossibly great attributes,” he said. “Rumi can be this goofy comedian and then singing and doing a spinning back-kick a second later and then freefalling through the sky.”
Moreover, the creators emphasized the creative range that animation provides. As they put it:
“The joy of animation is how far you can push and elevate what’s possible. I remember they adapted a lot of different animes and, often times, it just feels a little stilted,” Appelhands concluded.
Sequel and future plans
At the same time, Kang and Appelhans signalled there is room to expand the project. Kang told the BBC:
“There’s definitely more we can do with these characters in this world,” Kang told BBC. “And whatever it will be, it will be a story that deserves to be a sequel, and it will be something that we want to see.”
Therefore, while a live-action adaptation is off the table according to the creators, the franchise’s future will likely stay within animation or other formats that keep the original tone and scope intact.
