- By Srishti Pandey
- Fri, 21 Mar 2025 04:16 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Kim Soo-Hyun’s highly anticipated Kdrama Knock Off has officially been postponed. The announcement came from Disney+ on March 21, citing the decision was made "after careful consideration." This delay means the show will miss its scheduled release, with production plans for April also coming to a halt.
Knock Off was expected to be Kim Soo-Hyun's next major project following his successful run in Queen of Tears in 2024. The series, co-starring Jo Bo-Ah, had garnered attention not only for its star-studded cast but also for its impressive production scale. Disney+ reportedly invested ₩60 billion KRW (approximately $41.6 million) into the series, with Kim Soo-Hyun earning between ₩500-800 million KRW ($346,000-$554,000) per episode. For the eight-episode season, his total payout was estimated to exceed ₩5 billion KRW ($3.46 million).
The show completed filming for Season 1 and a second season was already greenlit — a rare move that signalled the streaming platform’s confidence in the project.
However, the series’ momentum was interrupted following Kim Soo-Hyun’s recent dating controversy involving actress Kim Sae-Ron. Public backlash mounted after his agency confirmed he was at her house, as shown in a revealing photo circulating online. The scandal led to divided opinions among netizens, which ultimately pressured Disney+ to hit the brakes on production.
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The delay is expected to result in significant financial losses for the platform. Reports suggest that if Knock Off faces cancellation, Disney+ could pursue legal action against the actor, potentially seeking tens of billions of won in damages. Contract clauses may require Soo-Hyun to cover 20-30% of the total production costs if found in breach of his agreement.
Knock Off tells the story of an ordinary man who loses his job during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis (IMF). Struggling to survive, he dives into the world of counterfeit goods, rising to become a global Counterfeit King. Marketed as a black comedy, the show aims to depict a raw, realistic portrayal of the economic turmoil that shook South Korea during that period.
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