Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
HYBE America to make live action film on K-pop
Actor Ji-young Yoo / Courtesy of Amir Shafii
By Baek Byung-yeul
HYBE America is teaming up with Paramount Pictures to produce a live action film with a K-pop theme, igniting speculation about the potential for a new hit in the vein of Netflix's animated feature "KPop Demon Hunters," the U.S. arm of the Korean entertainment company said Wednesday.
The yet-to-be-titled film will tell the story of a Korean American girl who defies her family's objections to pursue her dream of joining a next-generation K-pop girl group by participating in an audition TV program.
Ji-young Yoo, known for her role as Zoey in "KPop Demon Hunters," and Eric Nam, a singer and actor who starred as surgical resident Jonah Yoon in last year's Hollywood film "Transplant," have been cast in the lead roles. Their involvement, particularly Yoo's connection to "KPop Demon Hunters," is already generating buzz about the film's potential to capture the hearts of fans who embraced the hit animated movie.
HYBE America said the film is scheduled to be released in theaters on Feb. 12, 2027. The production, with an all-Korea shoot, will begin in mid-September this year, the company said, adding that it will be the first time a major Hollywood studio film conducts all of its shooting in Korea.
Singer and actor Eric Nam / Courtesy of Kigon Kwak
Benson Lee, who previously directed the acclaimed 2007 documentary "Planet B-Boy" (2007) and the 2015 feature film "Seoul Searching," will direct, with Eileen Shim penning the screenplay.
"This film is my love letter to K-pop — its energy, passion, magic and the incredible community behind it," Lee said. "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. This one’s for the dreamers."
James Shin, president of film and TV at HYBE America, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration.
"We’re thrilled to partner with Paramount Pictures on this historic opportunity to bring this story to audiences worldwide," Shin said. "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."