Mark Sonnenblick, co-writer of the global K‑pop hit KPop Demon Hunters, is having a whirlwind year. His soundtrack has earned critical acclaim and sparked discussions about a sequel.
In 2026 alone, Sonnenblick won a Golden Globe and a Grammy. He also received an Academy Award nomination for co-writing Golden, the animated feature’s standout track. The song achieved rare recognition for K‑pop in Western awards.
Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters became the platform’s most-watched film ever. It won Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Song. Its soundtrack topped global charts, highlighting K‑pop’s growing international influence.
Sonnenblick says the film took everyone involved from “zero to a million.” Fans and industry observers are now speculating about a sequel. Sonnenblick confirms that follow-up talks are underway, but details remain limited.
Musical Ambitions in London
Sonnenblick is also preparing his new musical, Midnight at the Never Get. The show runs at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory from July to September 2026.
US actor and theatre star Ben Platt plays the lead. The story follows a singer and a songwriter in a 1960s New York illegal gay bar. Platt told Newsbeat: “I went in to listening to Mark’s songs thinking ‘oh, these are by my lovely friend’. But I was really bowled over by the character and the score.”
Platt describes London as an ideal creative environment. “Audiences here have such intelligence and respect for this particular craft,” he says. “It felt like the perfect place to do it.”
Sonnenblick already has a hit musical on his CV, having collaborated with Sir Elton John on The Devil Wears Prada. Upcoming London theatre projects include stars like Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey, who are set for a 2027 theatre reunion.
A Transnational Cultural Impact
Together, KPop Demon Hunters and Midnight at the Never Get show Sonnenblick’s influence across global pop culture. He bridges streaming animation and live theatre, demonstrating K‑pop-inspired entertainment’s reach beyond traditional markets.
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