HYBE To Launch K-pop Movie, Signs KPop Demon Hunters Star!

• HYBE and Paramount Pictures will be releasing K-Pop Superstar: The Movie in 2027, targeting Valentine's weekend.
• Starring Ji-young Yoo who voiced Zoey in KPop Demon Hunters and singer-songwriter Eric Nam, it follows a Korean-American trainee pursuing idol dreams.
• The film will execute HYBE’s global strategy by incorporating acts like KATSEYE coupled with Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters.

This week at the CinemaCon 2026 a seismic announcement was made. Paramount Pictures and HYBE America finally revealed its project after almost spending six years in the making. The project’s official title, K-Pop Superstar: The Movie, marks an ultimate act by the Seoul-based entertainment giant to gloss its global musical empire into a cinematic landscape.

What is HYBE’s new K-pop movie about?

Directed by Benson Lee, the filmmaker behind Seoul Searching, the movie is widely being defined as an "energy-filled love letter" to the K-pop genre. The storyline centers on a young Korean-American woman who picks up the difficult path of taking part in a televised idol competition over her family's expectations. Although the foundation of the narrative echoes the reality-show roots of the K-pop industry, the production itself is setting a benchmark as the first key American studio film to be shot entirely in South Korea.

Producer James Shin, president of film and television at HYBE America, highlighted that the story will try to capture the "dedication and artistry" of the K-pop system while also showcasing the universal theme of running after dreams against all obstacles and odds.

Who is starring in HYBE’s upcoming film?

The production has secured high-profile personalities to support its live-action debut. Ji-young Yoo, who recently vaulted to fame as the voice of Zoey in the Oscar-winning KPop Demon Hunters, is reported to be taking the lead. The Ji-young Yoo HYBE film will also include singer-songwriter Eric Nam in a pivotal role. Although details about Eric Nam movie role HYBE are not yet revealed, it is expected to bring something fresh to the screen.

The HYBE Kpop movie cast also includes Oldboy legend Yoo Ji-tae, Tony Revolori (Spider-Man), and Gia Kim (XO, Kitty). As reported by Forbes, the supporting cast, which is also a dense ensemble of international talent, involves Sung Jun, Kang Sora, Hyongchol Lee, singer Ahin Lee, Renata Vaca, Silia Kapsis, Aliyah Turner, Shana Kim, and Jubi Park. Notably, the film’s script has seen a steady evolution; although Crazy Rich Asians’ Adele Lim managed its early drafts, the current shooting script was written by Eileen Shim.

Is HYBE producing a movie with Paramount Pictures?

This HYBE Paramount K-pop film showcases a lengthy strategy for the label. Initially set up at 20th Century Studios in 2020, its transfer to Paramount indicated a competitive push into the Western mainstream. Produced by Shin alongside Scooter Braun and Epic Magazine’s Arthur Spector and Joshua Davis, this film would be a cornerstone for HYBE America—the US arm of the label that oversees global pop acts like BTS, Seventeen, Le Sserafim, and Enhypen.

The film will also act as a significant launchpad for the label's global girl group, KATSEYE. Formed via the 2023 Dream Academy show in association with Geffen Records, KATSEYE’s involvement is more than a simple cameo; it is a strategic expansion of the "HYBE Universe." Following their April 10 Coachella 2026 debut, where they performed without Mannon on the Sahara stage, the film indicates the group’s intention on building a cross-platform narrative for themselves. Notably, KATSEYE also performed the Oscar-winning track Golden in Coachella, alongside EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, successfully closing the gap between the animated KPop Demon Hunters world and the new live-action venture from HYBE.

When will HYBE’s K-pop movie be released?

The HYBE Kpop movie release date is scheduled for February 12, 2027 in North America, calculatively targeting the profitable Presidents Day and Valentine’s Day weekend. The timing of the HYBE film couldn't be better; as KPop Demon Hunters recently swept Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the 2026 Oscars, coupled with BTS currently commanding the world with their ARIRANG World Tour, the global cultural demand for K-pop is at a very high level

As the HYBE Kpop movie starts to enter in its final stages, the industry is waiting to see if this combination of high-stakes Hollywood production and pure K-pop model can create something greater. For HYBE, the aim is very clear and specific; it wants to ensure that people around the globe do not just listen to the music of K-pop, but actually live its story.