EXCLUSIVE: Arden Cho is riding a wave thanks to the record-breaking success of Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, in which she voices the character Rumi.
The actress and singer is soon to star with Adeline Rudolph in another KPop-themed project in the shape of horror-thriller Perfect Girl, which as we revealed yesterday has newly added international KPop star Jeon Somi to its cast in her first acting role.
The former BlackList script has been described as “Scream meets Black Swan” and charts the story of a new K-Pop super group preparing for its debut, only to see its members mysteriously come under attack after the arrival of a talented new performer. Cho is a producer on the movie alongside Badlands and John Wick outfit Thunder Road.
Cho told Deadline of Jeon Somi’s casting: “This film is so huge, and we had an extensive casting process. We had some really incredible talents audition, but we’re really excited about Jeon Somi. She’s so talented, has such a big range. She’s not just a phenomenal dancer and singer, but she really did bring a very cool, fresh approach to the role as an actress. I’m really excited to see her debut for this.”
The movie will also feature six original tracks “blending the worlds of music and film”. No word yet whether Jeon Somi or Cho will contribute to the soundtrack.
“The whole mystery will be, who is our villain”, Cho says of the film’s premise. “That’s kind of the fun of it. You get to see these beautiful, talented, and complex characters and we’re not going to know who the villain is or who we should think it is. The script is a fabulous adventure and we hope the audience will be on the edge of their seats wondering.”
L-R: Jeon Somi, Arden Cho and Adeline Rudolph
Courtesy/Tim Bryan/Seung Hyun Cho
Production is slated to begin October 27th in Asia with Hong Won-ki (Goedam) directing from a script by Lynn Q. Yu.
Following its phenomenal global success, will KPop Demon Hunters inform or be reflected in Perfect Girl?
“The wave of love and support for KPop Demon Hunters has been truly incredible,” Cho told us. “I think the greatest part of the success is showing the world that culturally specific stories, new IP, and Asian leads, are not something to be scared of. I think quite often there’s this pressure that you have to have a big star leading a film for it to be successful. Oftentimes, as Asian Americans, we’re kind of seen as a risky investment or a risky project, but I think the success of KPop Demon Hunters shows us that maybe we’re not a risk anymore. Maybe people really love our stories. So, I’ve been very confident about Perfect Girl since I’ve known about the project.”
Despite only just turning 40, Cho, who was born in Texas to Korean immigrant parents, says she wants to give back at this stage in her career and help nurture talent and provide platforms for the likes of Jeon Somi to enter the industry: “I feel like I’m sort of stepping into this era where I want to be like a big sister to a lot of like the younger Asian-American talent and the Asian talent. I feel like it’s something I didn’t have in the beginning stages of my career. And I feel that fits with that message of KPop Demon Hunters, which is all about doing it together.”
Cho, also known for series including Teen Wolf and Chicago Med, says she hasn’t had word yet about the next steps for the hit franchise, which follows a world-renowned K-Pop girl group as they balance their lives in the spotlight with their secret identities as demon hunters. The movie has had more than three billion global streams on Netflix.
“We’re all waiting for those calls,” she says. “There’s been so many rumors bumping around. We were just saying on Good Morning America that the kids will riot if we don’t announce a sequel shortly. Hopefully there will be a good announcement soon.”
Kpop Demon Hunters
Netflix
It’s been rumoured online that the hit movie could get a straight sequel, a live action version or even a stage musical. Does Cho have an inkling of the franchise’s direction?
“Who knows? I’m such a fan of animation and the animation world that Sony and Netflix built. So I hope for a sequel or a prequel. I hope that it lives in that space. But who knows. That’s up to the creative masterminds.”
Cho told Good Morning America earlier this week that she’d love any potential sequel to explore her character Rumi’s family background, which viewers come to learn in the movie is complicated, as Rumi is part-demon.
“I’d love to see where Rumi’s family is from,” Cho said on the ABC show. “I’d love to know the story of how [Rumi’s human] mom and [demon] dad met and how HUNTR/X formed, and then we’ve got to go find [demon character] Jinu — well, or save him.”
Cho is next heading to Seattle to shoot indie movie Cheap AF with Margaret Cho before getting started on Perfect Girl in late October.