[OSENWORLD] The K-Pop Demon Hunters universe looks increasingly likely to expand — because no studio leaves a 300-million-view hit untouched.

According to the Classification and Rating Administration (CARA), the ratings board under the Motion Picture Association (MPA), an animated short titled “Debut: A KPOP Demon Hunters Story” has been officially rated PG for “some action/violence and scary images.” As of Sept. 17, 2025, it is classified as an Animated Short Subject, with Sony Pictures Entertainment listed as distributor. While release plans remain unannounced, the move signals that something new is indeed in the works.

The timing makes sense. Since premiering on June 20, the main feature has become Netflix’s most-watched title ever, surpassing 314.2 million views — the first in the streamer’s history to cross the 300 million mark. With numbers like that, insiders suggest expansion is not just possible but inevitable.

The soundtrack has fueled the momentum. The OST topped the Billboard 200 on Sept. 20, while lead single “Golden” has ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for five straight weeks, proving the franchise’s reach extends far beyond streaming.

Financially, Sony Pictures took home only about $20 million from the original film due to a fixed-fee, direct-to-platform deal signed in 2021. But industry sources note that upcoming sequels and spinoffs are being structured differently: Netflix is expected to lead rights management while Sony serves as a key production partner.

With Netflix riding a record-breaking juggernaut, the prospect of a K-Pop Demon Hunters short — and more — appears less like speculation and more like the next logical step.

/k_inside@osen.co.kr

Courtesy of Netflix