KPop Demon Hunters Set for Oscar Stage Debut

LOS ANGELES, 10 March (Reuters) – Netflix’s record-breaking animated phenomenon, KPop Demon Hunters, is set to make its first live appearance on the Oscars stage. Lead vocalists EJAE, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna will perform the Oscar-nominated original song “Golden” during Sunday’s ceremony, executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor, along with executive producer Katy Mullan, confirmed on Tuesday.

The performance will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed via Hulu, offering global audiences a chance to witness a fusion of music, culture, and animation brought vividly to life.

The trio, representing the film’s fictional K-pop group HUNTR/X, will present a performance combining chart-topping hits from the movie’s soundtrack with traditional Korean instrumentation and dance, paying homage to the cultural heritage that inspired the film. This marks a career milestone for EJAE, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna, who co-wrote and performed the nominated song.

Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, KPop Demon Hunters has achieved international acclaim, with its music charting across multiple countries and generating a devoted fanbase worldwide. The story follows three demon hunters who also navigate the high-energy world of K-pop idols, balancing supernatural battles with dazzling on-stage performances.

Joining them in their Oscars debut is American musician and actor Miles Caton, known for his role as Sammie in Ryan Coogler’s Oscar-nominated horror film Sinners. Caton will perform alongside Raphael Saadiq, delivering the film’s Oscar-nominated song “I Lied To You”. The performance promises a rich, blues-driven spectacle featuring renowned artists including Misty Copeland, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Brittany Howard, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey, and Alice Smith.

Warner Bros.’ Sinners has set a new benchmark this awards season, leading all films with 16 Oscar nominations. The narrative, set in 1930s Mississippi, follows twin brothers—both portrayed by Oscar nominee Michael B. Jordan—who open a juke joint, only to encounter a community of vampires. The film uses supernatural peril as an allegory for segregation and systemic racism, all while celebrating the power and legacy of blues music in Black American culture.

Key Oscar Performance Highlights

Sunday’s ceremony promises to blend animation, K-pop, and blues, spotlighting both global and American cultural artistry on one of the world’s biggest entertainment stages.