On February 28, Korean media reported that Disney+ is currently adjusting the broadcast schedule with the goal of bringing the original series "Knock-Off" to air in the first half of 2026. Previously, this project was suspended indefinitely related to the private life scandal of male lead Kim Soo Hyun.
Knock-Off" is a large-scale work, with an estimated production cost of about 60 billion won, this was once one of the most ambitious Korean film projects of this platform.
The film tells the story of a man rising to become a "tycoon" of the counterfeit goods market during the IMF financial crisis. The main character is played by Kim Soo Hyun.
However, the production and release process was suspended in March last year, after controversies surrounding the private life of the male lead, causing the release schedule to be suspended without a specific date.
Kim Soo Hyun is accused of dating the late actress Kim Sae Ron for 6 years, when she was a minor.
Although Kim Soo Hyun held a press conference to deny it, and filed a lawsuit against YouTube channel Garosero (information dissemination channel) and the family of late actress Kim Sae Ron for defamation, the investigation and lawsuit have not yet had a final result.
Industry sources said that Disney+ has begun re-evaluating the project in the process of restructuring the content team in 2026.
Analysts believe that Kim Soo Hyun's global fan base is still very large, along with the risk of heavy financial losses if such a high-budget project is "covered up", which are the main factors driving Disney+'s review.
Attention is focused on the meeting with investors scheduled to take place in early March, where the remaining filming schedule as well as the online release strategy of "Knock-Off" may be mentioned. The possibility of the project being "revved" has caused the stocks of related entertainment companies to fluctuate, further increasing speculation.
Some people in the industry believe that this is a strategic decision of Disney+ to face risks directly instead of accepting huge losses.
A source commented that the atmosphere surrounding Kim Soo Hyun's return seems to be "gradually warming up", and also said that whether "Knock-Off" is officially mentioned at the lineup announcement in early March or not may become one of the hottest topics of the Korean entertainment industry in the first half of this year.
The fate of "Knock-Off" is now closely linked to the possibility of Kim Soo Hyun's complete reappearance. Both fans and observers are watching, to see if this blockbuster project really marks the male actor's return after a year of turmoil?
