In a recent episode of the podcast “The Town,” Sony Pictures Chairman Tim Rothman discussed whether the studio feels deep regret in selling KPop Demon Hunters to Netflix rather than bringing it to theaters themselves. To start, Rothman discussed Huntrix’s original rise in popularity: “It took about a month for that movie to catch on, and it was placed in the right place for it. We’re very happy with KPop and we’re very proud of it, the quality of animation. I don’t think it would have opened in theaters but it didn’t open on Netflix either to start. The repeat viewing is free, and repeat viewing in theaters is not free. It was a perfect match.”
The KPop Demon Hunters’ Mistake
Netflix
Rothman discouraged the idea that Sony had made a mistake with its decision to sell KPop Demon Hunters, expanding on his previous statement, “In my job, hindsight is 20/20, and I regret a lot of decisions, but I don’t regret that one. That’s been great, and it’s been great for the brand. There are a tremendous number of intangible benefits that have come with that. We’re the hottest animation shop in town. If you’re a new animator, you’re beating down Sony Animation Pictures’ doors. Our job was to deliver Netflix hits, and I think they’re very happy with our partnership.”
While Sony might have missed the boat when it came to additional profits from KPop Demon Hunters thanks to the Netflix deal, the animated movie is sure to give the studio plenty of profits in the future. Following the runaway success of the first film, it should come as no surprise that plans for a Huntrix sequel are already in the works. Unfortunately, updates regarding the second film have placed the release window at 2029, meaning fans will be waiting years before we see the trio make a comeback. Luckily, the streaming service has other ideas in mind to capitalize on KPop’s success.
In recent reports, Netflix has dubbed KPop Demon Hunters its version of Disney’s Frozen, aka one of the biggest animated projects for the streaming service. While not confirmed, the platform has seemingly discussed television shows, a live-action adaptation, a worldwide tour, and much more. Wherever the future leads for the idol group, the demon hunters aren’t going to lose momentum any time soon.
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