KPop Demon Hunters director Maggie Kang has promised the sequel to the smash hit movie will be "fresh, surprising and original".

The first film became the most‑watched movie in Netflix history when it debuted last year, with an impressive soundtrack including songs such as Soda Pop, Showdown and Golden, which won a Grammy and an Oscar.

Fans are now eagerly awaiting the next instalment in the franchise, with Maggie saying that she and co-director Chris Appelhans are pulling out all the stops to ensure the second movie is just as successful as the first - and are involved with every creative decision relating to the film,

She told Deadline: "We want full control of that, because this is now a franchise and the creative is so important and everything that comes out of this franchise has to be high quality. The K-pop fans are very strict and they will notice."

While work is underway on the film, fans are likely to have to wait some time, "because, unfortunately, animation just takes a long time," Maggie said previously.

Even the first mentioned 2029 release date could be too ambitious, Sony Pictures Animation co-president Kristine Belson hinted recently.

Upon the announcement that a sequel was in the works, Maggie said in a statement: "I feel immense pride as a Korean filmmaker that the audience wants more from this Korean story and our Korean characters. There's so much more to this world we have built and I'm excited to show you. This is only the beginning."

Appelhans added: "These characters are like family to us, their world has become our second home. We're excited to write their next chapter, challenge them and watch them evolve -- and continue pushing the boundaries of how music, animation and story can come together."

KPop Demon Hunters tells the story of the K-pop girl group HUNTR/X - Rumi, Mira and Zoey - who battle demons in secret while also smashing out hit after hit.