Hollywood journo Matthew Belloni has unearthed particulars of the deal Netflix struck for the sequel to KPop Demon Hunters, and it seems the film’s administrators and co-writers, Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, are set for a large payday. Netflix pays the pair about $50 million between them over 5 years, and grant them shares of merchandising and music income, too.
No one knew that KPop Demon Hunters could be the huge phenomenon it turned out to be. This meant that Netflix acquired it at a discount worth, paying manufacturing studio Sony Footage Animation a modest $20 million for the rights. But it surely additionally meant that neither Sony nor Netflix had thought to place choices for a sequel into Kang and Appelhans’ contracts, giving them large leverage when negotiations began for the brand new film.
Kang and Appelhans are unique to Netflix for the subsequent 5 years as they make the movie, and collectively shall be paid a assured $10 million a yr over that point. Their share of merchandising gross sales begins now — simply in time for that McDonald’s collab — and so they’ll get a royalty share on music for the sequel. (Belloni says “a assassin’s row of Okay-pop artists” is jostling to be a part of the brand new film.) They will additionally assist handle the franchise, consulting on merch and spinoffs like a mooted live performance tour.
Artistic management and an enormous bag of cash; it is the dream. Kang and Appelhans are the massive winners, however Sony Footage Animation will get a wholesome payday, too. The studio will get $40 million for the sequel, plus a $20 million retroactive bonus for the success of the primary film, and performance-related bonuses on the sequel.
It is solely honest that Netflix has needed to shell out, and the streaming large seemingly nonetheless considers it a superb deal. KPop Demon Hunters is an Oscar-winning international sensation, the most-watched film on its service by a mile, and a breakout hit that, by way of high quality and viewers measurement, measures as much as any latest manufacturing by the animation large (and Netflix’s streaming rival) Disney. It is also that rarest of issues: a very authentic film that may outperform the highest franchises.
Not coincidentally, it is also nice. I do not know if it could have been doable for Sony and Netflix to maneuver ahead on a sequel with out Kang and Appelhans; Kang, for one, had different affords and was reportedly contemplating strolling away from the negotiations. But it surely’s to Netflix’s credit score that it selected to not, and to pony up for the important thing expertise. KPop Demon Hunters is the success it isn’t due to its easy, enjoyable premise, however due to Kang and Appelhans’ excellent command of its goofy-but-emotional tone, its sharp visible identification, its cultural references, and the way in which its smash-hit songs sit inside its narrative. A sequel with out them could be unthinkable.
It isn’t so usually that the artistic crew liable for a smash-hit film will get to share so straight in its success, particularly in animation. That is one thing to have fun.
