Riding on a global wave of success from Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters,” a new feature-length K-pop film is moving forward through a high-profile collaboration between Paramount Pictures and Hybe America.
The untitled production will be directed by Benson Lee and released in theaters on February 12, 2027. The project will be the first major American studio movie shot entirely in South Korea.
Starring Ji-young Yoo and Eric Nam, the film centers on a Korean American teenager who defies family expectations to join a televised competition for the next big K-pop girl group. The story reflects a blend of coming-of-age drama and high-stakes performance, echoing the reality-based format of South Korea’s idol survival shows.
“This film is my love letter to K-pop, all its energy, passion, magic, and the incredible community behind it,” said Lee in a public statement. “I’m deeply grateful to Paramount Pictures for championing the project, to our producers for their unwavering dedication, to our talented and dynamic cast, and to the legends of the genre helping us bring this story to life.”
Lee, a Korean American filmmaker, is no stranger to music-driven storytelling. He gained critical acclaim for “Planet B-Boy,” a documentary chronicling breakdance culture around the world, and later adapted it into the narrative film “Battle of the Year.”
Lee also wrote and directed “Seoul Searching,” a 2015 coming-of-age film set at a summer camp for Korean teens from the diaspora, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. “Milwaukee Independent” interviewed Lee in 2016 for his educational advocacy and identity-focused storytelling in Asian American cinema. His film was later profiled in 2024 as part of its 72-part series EXPLORING KOREA: Stories from Milwaukee to the DMZ and across a divided peninsula.
Yoo previously voiced the role of Zoey in “KPop Demon Hunters,” where she portrayed a member of the fictional girl group Huntr/x. Nam is known both for his music career and television work.
Filming is scheduled to begin this September in South Korea, with production overseen by Paramount’s senior vice president, Bryan Oh. The screenplay’s most recent draft was written by Eileen Shim. Hybe America, president of film and TV, James Shin, is producing the project.
“This film captures the incredible dedication and artistry that defines K-pop and its insatiable popularity, while showcasing the universal themes of chasing your dreams against all odds,” Shin said in a statement.
The release date strategically positions the film for box office success, opening over Presidents Day and Valentine’s Day weekend. It will debut opposite TriStar’s adaptation of “The Nightingale,” starring Elle and Dakota Fanning.
For Paramount, the project represents a shift toward international collaboration and a deepening of ties to Korean pop culture, which has seen a sustained surge in global influence through streaming platforms.
The untitled K-pop movie promises to be more than just a film. It represents the continued internationalization of Korean entertainment and the growing appetite of American audiences for Asian stories.
Hybe America operates as the U.S. arm of South Korea’s Hybe Corporation, the powerhouse behind K-pop artists like BTS, fromis_9, and Le Sserafim. The company has expanded aggressively into international markets, with an eye toward multimedia ventures that bridge traditional entertainment boundaries.
The upcoming film builds on the momentum of “KPop Demon Hunters,” the Netflix animated feature that became an unexpected success and sparked a worldwide craze. Songs from the film cracked the Billboard Hot 100 and dominated Spotify charts, while cosplay tributes and choreography videos emerged across social platforms.
The movie’s cultural resonance was especially visible in cities with growing K-pop fanbases, including Milwaukee, where Milwaukee Independent has documented the impact on local fandom and Korean language media engagement.
> READ: K-pop Revolution: The Korean cultural phenomenon that captivated a growing audience in Milwaukee
Casting for supporting roles and musical collaborators has not been announced. The film remains untitled, but anticipation is high among industry watchers and fans alike for what could become the genre’s most mainstream cinematic entry yet.
Benson Lee, Gang Min-ji/Yonhap (via AP), Carla Van Wagoner and Simon K. Shin (via Shutterstock
