Ok-Pop: Demon Hunters – Picture: Sony Pictures Animation
First introduced in 2021, a brand new animated film about feminine Ok-Pop stars who, in between gigs, go about slaying evil spirits was introduced to be in growth at Sony Pictures Animation. A 12 months later, we reported the film had moved to Netflix, and now it’s been confirmed to be touchdown completely on Netflix.
Note: This submit was launched in April 2022 and has been up to date to mirror new developments.
Variety unveiled the animated challenge in March 2021 and reported that administrators Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans had been on board to direct. Kang is greatest recognized for her work on The Lego Ninjago Movie. At the identical time, Applehans was concerned as a author and director on Netflix’s 2021 launch of Wish Dragon final 12 months (which is reportedly getting a sequel, though it’s unclear whether or not that might be at Netflix).
Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan are writers on the animation challenge, whereas Aron Warner (Shrek) and Scott Berri are producers.
Here’s what’s recognized in regards to the story of the upcoming challenge:
“The story of a world-renowned K-Pop girl group, as they balance their lives in the spotlight with their secret identities as bad-ass demon hunters, set against a colorful backdrop of fashion, food, style, and the most popular music movement of this generation.”
Training for the large debut. Ok-Pop: Demon Hunters is at the moment in growth at Sony Animation.
This movie follows a world-renowned Ok-Pop woman group as they stability their lives within the highlight with their secret identities as badass demon hunters. pic.twitter.com/sFScsOqMN5
— Sony Pictures Animation (@SonyAnimation) March 8, 2021
Since that preliminary announcement, issues have been quietly labored on behind the scenes. As Variety notes, a launch schedule on the time had not been introduced.
That’s the place we come onto Netflix. Two filings registered lately tie the film to Netflix. Multiple paperwork counsel that Netflix is taking up the discharge of the film. In latest months, Netflix additionally made filings with the same wording for Nimona, which was formally unveiled to be headed to Netflix in 2023.
Of course, even when the film did get a theatrical run, it might’ve appeared on Netflix, albeit it just for a restricted time, given Sony and Netflix have an total first-window deal for all Sony films (each live-action and animation) within the US in 2022.
Sony Pictures Animation didn’t reply to a request for remark.
In February 2023, nevertheless, Sony’s film chief confirmed that the challenge was with Netflix. In an interview with Business Insider, Tom Rothman was speaking in regards to the first window deal Netflix had with Sony and added:
“We made a few direct-to-platform films for them. “Lady Chatterley’s Lover.” And we’re making a giant animated Ok-Pop musical.”
The transfer to Netflix wouldn’t be utterly out of the extraordinary. In 2021, Netflix partnered with Sony Animation on three initiatives to assist bolster its slate of flicks impacted by COVID-19 delays. The Wish Dragon, Vivo, and The Mitchells vs. The Machines had been all offered to Netflix. The latter was a giant success for Netflix, even netting it an Oscar nomination.