In news that shocks absolutely no one, I’m still very much obsessed with Kpop Demon Hunters. I’ve now watched the film five times (a total I’m sure will only increase), and it has been on my mind every day since it dropped at the end of June. I’ve reviewed the film, ranked the songs, and even had some ideas of where a sequel could go, yet that’s still not enough for this film to relinquish the chokehold it has on me. So instead of watching a different film or playing a video game, I will be going over which projects should be created to turn Kpop Demon Hunters into a multi-million-dollar franchise!
First and foremost, I need two more movies continuing the stories of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey before anything else. Seeing more of these girls and their journeys should be of the utmost importance when thinking of follow-ups. I’ve already gone over what I would want to see in a sequel, so I won’t spend too much of your time repeating myself. But the general gist of what I would want in this potential trilogy is more info on Mira and Zoey, exploring Rumi’s parents, a World Tour, a trip to the Demon Realm, and Jinu staying dead (but maybe coming back as a spirit guide).
There are more than enough unanswered questions and plot threads to create a satisfying trilogy on par with some of the greats, and I think that’s where the films should end. Sure, I adore the film with all my heart, but I’m also a fan of seeing a story come to a definitive end. I wouldn’t want this series to drag on and pump out so many sequels that it no longer resembles the thing I love. So, capping the main series at a trilogy makes the most sense to me, but not every new project has to be a sequel.
There are so many possibilities when it comes to a prequel to Kpop Demon Hunters, but the one I would most want is a series or film about the Sunlight Sisters. This is the trio before HUNTR/X and includes Celine, Rumi’s mother, and a currently unnamed third member. We could see how this group went about fighting demons and the plans they had to create the Golden Honmoon. But besides the Honmoon and fighting demons, this prequel could add further context to why Celine acts the way she does in Kpop Demon Hunters. Maybe the third member was killed fighting demons, or maybe there was a massive falling out between the group over a certain someone’s love life?
Speaking of love lives, this prequel would also be perfect for giving us more information about Rumi’s parents. We could see how they met, what made Rumi’s mother fall in love with a demon, her sworn enemy. And also, who is the demon father? Is he related to Gwi-ma, or was he just some rando? These questions are on everyone’s mind after watching the first film, and this prequel would be the perfect opportunity to answer them in full.
I’d also be fine with this being a series or a film, because it would work either way. Using Jujutsu Kaisen as an example, they could make this prequel a film, similar to Jujutsu Kaisen 0, and have it be a one-and-done. Or, if they make it a series, frame it like the Hidden Inventory arc, and have the story be told to Rumi as a narrative framing device. Either way, the story of the Sunlight Sisters needs to happen.
We know that hunters have been fighting demons for hundreds of years, which means multiple generations of hunters. We get a brief glimpse of these different trios in the film’s opening, with each group having their own distinct style. I would say the best way to give each of these groups a chance to shine would be an anthology series. Give each group between one and three episodes, going over the major events that each group experienced. This would be a good chance to build out the lore of this world, alongside giving us proper looks at the previous hunters.
Across a hypothetical 12-episode series, we could see the creation of the Honmoon, the first encounter with the demons, the first encounter with Gwi-ma, and maybe even throw in some non-demon-related threats (did the World Wars happen in this universe, and was it controlled by the demons?) The possibilities with a Kpop Demon Hunters anthology series are endless and could easily hold us over in between films.
Sony and Netflix are sitting on a gold mine right now with Kpop Demon Hunters, and they’d be idiots not to capitalise on it. And if the continued success of the film and soundtrack is any indication, a sequel, prequel, or anthology (or all three) is looking more likely every passing day. Rest assured, the second they announce anything related to Kpop Demon Hunters, I will be there to get all those juicy details for you and me.
Do you want more Kpop Demon Hunters projects? What should they make first? Should they ever stop? Let us know in the comments where we can talk all things Kpop Demon Hunters.