A K-Pop Movie from Paramount, HYBE, and Eric Nam? Let’s Just Say… It’s Complicated. 👀
According to Deadline, Eric Nam has been cast in a new untitled K-pop movie. Let’s see a breakdown on the movie:
- Studios: Paramount x HYBE America
- Director: Benson Lee (Seoul Searching)
- Actors: Eric Nam and Ji-young Yoo (K-Pop Demon Hunters)
- Brief Storyline: A girl defies her family’s opposition to star in a reality competition show in search of a K-pop girl group
- Theatrical Release Date: February 12, 2027
Per the report, this project is expected to be the first major American studio film that is entirely shot in Korea. 😯
👩🏻🍵 Kayla’s Thoughts:
I have some thoughts. 🧐
1) Suspicious Timing?
Was this news released in time with Netflix’s recent massive success with “K-Pop Demon Hunters”? Well, the short answer is NO. But it’s hard to deny the coincidence given K-pop’s recent winning streak in media
Not to also mention a previous news that I released in my Pop In Weekly report. I previously shared that Elizabeth Banks and Joel Kim Booster are attached to a K-Pop project. Of course, the two are different, as Elizabeth Banks project is a series.
Apparently, the untitled K-pop movie was overseen by Paramount Pictures Motion Pictures Group president Michael Ireland during its development at 20th Century Fox. He later acquired it from Disney and brought it to Paramount current studio head Brian Robbins.
I just got a spidey-sense feeling the casting news was strategically timed to ride the K-pop media wave—especially after K-Pop Demon Hunters’ Netflix buzz and that Elizabeth Banks series announcement. Am I over thinking it? Maybe. But timing in Hollywood is never accidental. 😏
2) Eric Nam Slowly Making A Mark in Hollywood
First of all, congrats to Eric Nam! As many of you know, Eric Nam is Korean-American who starred in MBC studio’s “Star Audition: The Great Birth”. Oh what do you know! A K-pop reality competition star starring in a K-Pop reality competition movie! 🤭 While Eric Nam made a name for himself in Korean entertainment, music—his original dream—never quite took off the way he’d hoped. Ironically, it was his charm as a host and interviewer to Hollywood actors that truly skyrocketed his popularity. Also, he gained popularity for his good guy image. It was a running joke that every family should have one Eric Nam. 😂
Since 2020, Eric Nam is much more focused and active in the states. I haven’t really caught up with him since 2020, but it seems like he’s doing pretty decent. Last I checked, he released couple of English albums and gone on world tours. He is hosting a podcast ‘Daebak Show w/ Eric Nam’. He co-founded a media platform company with his brothers and led couple of movie projects such as “Transplant” and the upcoming “The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender”.
So I’m glad that it seems like he’s thriving in Hollywood relative to his time in Korea. Especially as it is not easy surviving as a minority actor in Hollywood. I also like the fact that he’s not solely relying on his talent as a celebrity but is also flexing his business skills in the entertainment industry. Still, I do hope that he will have the opportunity to become more mainstream with this untitled K-pop movie!
3) Controversies
On the other hand, I’ve noticed two major fans backlash surrounding this announcement. Fans have expressed disdain for Paramount and Eric Nam and his association with Dive Studios.
- Paramount
So many fans were unhappy when they heard that the movie is a Paramount production. I did a small research and it seems recently, that majority of entertainment fans are unhappy with Paramount. Rather than fighting back, Paramount basically settled Trump’s lawsuit with 16 million payout. By the way, the lawsuit was against CBS in relation to ‘deceptively editing’ an interview to make it seem more favorable to the Democratic party. After settling, CBS and Paramount received FCC approval for the controversial $8B Paramount-Skydance merger—sparking backlash from media watchdogs and fans alike. This merger of two industry heavyweights was heavily criticized because of its Trump connection but also because it is a monopoly in the entertainment world. Then days after Stephen Colbert criticized this merger, he is presented a sudden ‘Good Bye’ from his CBS late night talk show. What figures!
So no wonder fans are unimpressed with the recent association since CBS and Paramount is getting lots of flack for its political stance and its greedy move in the content industry.
- Eric Nam & Dive Studios‘ Pro-Israel Stance
According to their website, Dive Studios is a dynamic media platform focused on Korean entertainment and celebrities shaping global culture. Eric Nam and his brothers Brian and Eddie co-founded the company.
The main criticism that Eric Nam & Dive Studios faced is the fact that they swept their allegedly pro-Israel stance under the rug. Rewind back to October 2023, when Eric Nam had liked a pro-Israel post. Some of his muslim fans expressed their anger and what did he do? He quietly canceled his concert in Malaysia. Later on, he gave a neutral statement and addressed the controversy – but blamed the cancellation to security issue. This frustrated fans because they felt that he was being a hypocrite. Especially since he was so vocal with Asian rights movement.
This later snowballed into a theory that his mental health wellness app Mindset, which he also co-founded, is backed by investors with pro-Israel ties. And supposedly, one of them is Scooter Braun (wink, wink he is also backing the K-pop movie through HYBE America 😏) And vice-versa, that either Dive Studios or Mindset is heavily investing in Israel. None of this is confirmed though. 😶
Fans also added that it’s ironic that he’s lending his voice as the main character on “The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender”. As someone some fans accuse of supporting Israel during a deeply sensitive period, it struck a nerve to see him voicing a character in a show critics say echoes anti-genocide themes.
Overview:
Still, no matter the controversies surrounding those involved in this untitled K-pop movie, the feeling that I have at the end of the day is PROUD. What am I proud of?
For one, Eric Nam has forged his own path in Hollywood as a minority celeb. Another proud moment I could point out is that K-pop has risen into the eyes of mainstream- so much that it has inspired studios to be making movies about it. It’s surreal that there is a time when Hollywood decides to put their faith in Korean content with Korean casts and Korean locations. I’m proud that there are people who are willing to pay to learn and enjoy a music genre that brings so much joy. 🥰
