With the Kim Soo Hyun controversy still making headlines, Disney+’s upcoming series Knockoff, originally planned for next month, is now facing uncertainty.
Fans and industry insiders are frustrated as Disney+ has remained silent for over two weeks, making no official statement or decision.
Knockoff began production in July last year as the follow-up to Hyper Knife and wrapped up filming earlier this year. The series was planned as a two-season project, with Season 1 originally set to premiere in April.
However, due to the ongoing scandal surrounding Kim Soo Hyun, its release now seems impossible. The drama tells the story of a man whose life changes drastically after the IMF crisis, turning from an ordinary office worker into a powerful figure in the global counterfeit market.
What’s frustrating many is Disney+’s lack of response. Despite more than ten days passing since the controversy began, the platform has yet to make any announcement regarding the drama’s fate, leaving sponsors and actors' agencies in limbo.
People are now comparing Disney+’s inaction to Netflix’s swift handling of Yoo Ah-in’s drug scandal. The Match, starring Lee Byung-hun and Yoo Ah-in, was set for a Netflix release last year after finishing filming in 2021. But when Yoo Ah-in became embroiled in a legal investigation, Netflix quickly postponed its release indefinitely.
Netflix took immediate action, pressuring the film’s distributor, Acemaker Movieworks, to the point of almost canceling the contract before transferring distribution rights to By4M Studio. The film is now set for a theatrical release on the 26th.
Netflix also made proactive moves in other projects. In the 12-episode drama Goodbye Earth, Yoo Ah-in’s role was significantly reduced, though the series still failed to impress audiences. For Hellbound Season 2, Netflix swiftly replaced Yoo Ah-in with Kim Sung-cheol despite his praised performance in Season 1.
With Netflix taking such decisive actions, Disney+’s continued silence is only adding to the frustration. Many are now wondering—will Disney+ finally address the issue, or will Knockoff be stuck in limbo forever?
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