Kal Penn Was Up Against a "White Dude in Brownface" for Van Wilder Role

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Kal Penn Reveals He Won 'Van Wilder' Role of Taj Mahal Over a White Actor in Brownface

One of Kal Penn's breakout roles was playing the character Taj Mahal Badalandabad in the 2002 comedy hit National Lampoon’s Van Wilder. On a recent episode of the podcast Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know, the actor revealed that at the end of the audition process, he was up against a "white dude in brownface." And it motivated him to work harder.

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She restored a 112-year-old Asian American film. Now it's in the National Film Registry

Among the Library of Congress' recent additions to the National Film Registry, the library's collection of films deemed worth preserving, are the likes of Inception, The Karate Kid and The Incredibles. But tucked away in that list is a little-known silent film that carries with it a major legacy. Produced in 1914, The Oath of the Sword is the oldest Asian American film on record. Its mere existence reveals a significant gap in cinematic history: The films made by Asian Americans in the silent film era are largely lost to time. And it would have remained hidden if not for Asian American film scholar Denise Khor.

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The Internet Is Embracing Chinese Traditions, and Influencers Welcome Them All

If you drink hot water, wear slippers indoors or shop at Asian supermarkets, you may be Chinese, according to the internet. On TikTok and Instagram, there's a growing trend of people claiming to be in a "very Chinese time" in their lives because they're adopting mundane East Asian lifestyle habits. Anyone can apparently be Chinese if they wish. What in the hell is all this?

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Michelle Yeoh Will Be Honored with Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Internationally acclaimed actress Michelle Yeoh will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I mean, what took them so long? The Oscar-winning star of Everything Everywhere All at Once will be honored with the legendary boulevard's 2,836th star at a ceremony on February 18. Joining emcees Ang Lee and Jon M. Chu will be entertainment journalist Jenelle Riley. The event will be streamed live at walkofffame.com.

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Seong Gi-hun Sixth Scale Figure

Squid Game fans! How about a Player 456 action figure? This highly detailed Seong Gi-hun Sixth Scale Figure from Sideshow and Hot Toys bears an incredible resemblance to actor Lee Jung-jae and comes complete with a faithfully tailored Squid Game tracksuit and a series of accessories, including a USB-powered voting machine, a Piggybank, a mask accessory with square symbol, a six-legged pentathlon game set consisting of a pair of ankle cuffs, a pair of Ddakji, a pair of Biseokchigi, a set of Gonggi stones, a shuttlecock, a spinning top, and a special figure base designed to replicate the staircase setting. Awesome. But not cheap -- it'll cost you $280.

How Alysa Liu Broke Her Olympic Gold Medal

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Why Figure Skater Alysa Liu Wasn't Allowed to Keep Her Olympic Gold Medal

They've apparently been handing out busted medals at the Olympics! Milano Cortina officials launched an investigation into reports of defective Olympic medals thanks in part to figure skater Alysa Liu. The Olympian posted a video on TikTok which shows off her medal, earned as part of Team USA's mixed-team short program, snapped off from its ribbon. "I just got this olympic gold medal, already broke it," Liu's caption reads. Several other athletes have reported similar medal snapping. All it apparently takes is some celebratory jumping while wearing the medal.

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Coming Soon: Sandiwara

Consider me intrigued. Michelle Yeoh stars in a new short film, Sandiwara, described as an exploration of Malaysian culture through the lens of food, music and womanhood. Directed by Sean Baker and made in collaboration with London-based fashion brand Self-Portrait, the film's title comes from the Malay word sandiwara, which means drama or theatrical performance. In the 11-minute short, Yeoh plays five different roles, each representing a different side of life in Malaysia. The film premieres this week at the Berlin International Film Festival and will be available everywhere on February 20.

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Girls Like Girls Trailer

Check out the trailer for Girls Like Girls. Based on writer/director Hayley Kiyoko's hit single and best-selling novel of the same name and featuring all-new music from Kiyoko, the film is described as a heartfelt coming-of-age story set over the course of one sun-drenched summer, where new-girl-in-town Coley falls in love for the first time while learning to accept herself along the way. Girls Like Girls hits theaters on June 19.

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Sony Scraps Thai-Inspired Animated Movie After Two Years of Development

Animator Matt Braly says that Sony Pictures Animation scrapped his Thai-inspired animated movie after two years of development because the studio deemed it "not commercial enough to produce." It had been previously announced that Braly, a writer on Cartoon Network's Steven Universe and storyboard artist on The Mitchells vs the Machines was working on a feature with writer Rebecca Sugar.

Braly described the film as an adventure about a "a teen boy traveling to the world of Thai spirits in order to cure himself just before undergoing a very scary & life altering operation necessary to live." He added that this was "not a story about finding a cure so much as it was about learning to accept one’s unchangeable circumstances with grace, and realizing that a different life than expected can still be a wonderful one."

This is a bummer, not least because this project looked cool as hell, but also because it feels like this is a opportune moment for Sony Animation to take some narrative risks on new voices for a big payoff.

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Rosemead Now Available on Digital

The critically acclaimed indie drama Rosemead, starring Lucy Liu, is now available to watch on digital. Inspired by a harrowing true story, Liu transforms in a riveting, career-redefining performance as an ailing woman who takes drastic measures to protect her troubled teenage son (Lawrence Shou). As his dark obsessions grow and time runs out, she is forced to make impossible choices: how far will she go and what is she willing to sacrifice? Set against the simmering tensions of a Chinese American community, Rosemead is a gripping portrait of a family pushed to the edge. Rent or buy Rosemead on Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Olympians Speak Out Against Trump's "Loser" Remarks

And Other Items of Note from Angry Asian America.

Chloe Kim, Eileen Gu speak out after President Trump calls Olympian 'a loser'

A day after President Donald Trump called the Olympian Hunter Hess "a real loser" over the freestyle skier's comments about representing the United States, two of the biggest stars at these Winter Olympics, snowboarder Chloe Kim and freestyle skier Eileen Gu, have spoken out in a Games that is becoming ever more politically charged. As a general rule, whenever Trump goes out of his way to call someone a "loser," they are usually, in fact, quite the opposite.

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Councilmember Nithya Raman to run for L.A. mayor, challenging onetime ally Karen Bass

Nithya Raman has entered the Los Angeles mayoral race in an eleventh-hour bid, challenging former ally Karen Bass in the June primary. The progressive councilmember announced mayoral run on Saturday, just three hours before the filing deadline for the June election and less than two weeks after endorsing Bass' reelection.

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A Hmong child bride who killed her husband years ago dreads her next ICE check-in

Nou served nearly seven years in prison for killing her husband in self-defense, after suffering years of abuse. She pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter, her green card was taken away, and she has to regularly check in with ICE. Now 50 and disabled, she lives in fear that she'll be deported under the current surge in immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

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How Yerin Ha Became the Belle of Bridgerton's Ball

Yerin Ha never thought she’d get top billing when she sent her audition tape. "When my agent told me it was for Bridgerton, I thought it was a supporting role. Then I realized, oh no, this is for the lead. They’re going to cast an East Asian woman for the lead."

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The Rose: Come Back To Me

Hitting theaters this week: The Rose: Come Back to Me. Directed by Eugene Yi, the award-winning documentary feature follows the inspiring journey of The Rose -- the Korean alt-pop indie band who have quickly risen as one of Korea's most in-demand groups, captivating audiences worldwide with their soul-stirring, genre-blending sound.

Beam Me Up, Sulu: Where No Fan Had Gone Before

Feature documentary available February 17.

In 1985, Star Trek's George Takei joined a group of dedicated fans to make a student film deep in the California forest -- only for the footage to mysteriously vanish. Nearly 40 years later, the documentary Beam Me Up, Sulu, directed by Timour Gregory and Sasha Schneider, unearths this lost film, revealing not just a piece of fan history but a broader story of representation, resilience, and the ongoing fight for inclusion in media and society.

Just how the heck did this guy, Stan Woo, get George Takei to be in his goofy Star Trek fan film? The documentary is a fun and moving exploration of fandom, dedication and diversity. I had the pleasure of being interviewed for the film, and as a Star Trek fan, I'm delighted to be part of this project.

Three Killed After Car Crashes into 99 Ranch Market

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

3 dead, several injured after car crashes into 99 Ranch Market in Westwood

Three people were killed and several others injured when a car crashed into the 99 Ranch Market in Westwood on Thursday. The driver first hit a bicyclist, then continued for about a block before crashing into the grocery store, trapping multiple people beneath her car. The victims killed in the crash were identified as a 42-year-old woman, a 55-year-old man and a 30-year-old man. They were all inside the store's bakery at the time of the crash. Authorities say they do not believe the crash was intentional.

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Hundreds of Chinese-language Film Reels Saved

Los Angeles! The UCLA Film and TV Archive uncovered and rescued hundreds of films from the now-closed Sing Lee Theatre on the edge of Chinatown -- once the heart of Chinese-language cinema in L.A. -- and you can now see them for free as part of a special film series, Echoes From Spring Street: The World of Sing Lee and Chinese-Language Cinema in L.A.

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Ski The Wong Way

Ski The Wong Way is a feature documentary that tells the untold story of ski legend Wayne Wong. Before freestyle skiing had a name, Wayne and a small group of rebellious skiers were redefining the sport through creativity, risk, and expression. The film explores the birth of freestyle skiing, how a countercultural movement on the margins grew into an Olympic sport, and the people who made it possible. Learn more and pledge to the Kickstarter here.

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Chinese Republicans

Chinese Republicans is a satirical new play, written by Alex Lin and directed by Chay Yew, presented by Roundabout Theatre Company. Three high-powered businesswomen meet for lunch every month to discuss their latest career triumphs, as they’ve done for decades. But the group is jolted when Katie, a bright-eyed 24-year-old new to the workforce, joins to navigate the world of corporate finance. As each of the women attempts to steer Katie towards what they're certain is best, they’re forced to grapple with how much they already have and are willing to sacrifice to climb the corporate ladder.

Shifting between sharp-tongued humor and the harsh realities of modern capitalism, this world premiere production explores themes of assimilation, intergenerational conflict, and gender politics in the workplace -- all with unflinching wit and empathy. Chinese Republicans is now in previews at the Laura Pels Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre in New York City. For tickets and more information, go here.

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LEGO® KPop Demon Hunters Coming Soon

For the fans! KPop Demon Hunters is officially coming in LEGO brick form.

Justice Department Attorney Tells Judge "This Job Sucks"

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Government attorney who told judge in ICE case, 'This job sucks,' removed from detail

Julie Le, a government attorney who was representing the Justice Department in court is no longer detailed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota after she told a judge her job "sucks" and asked to be held in contempt so she "could get 24 hours of sleep."

Le was called to testify Tuesday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota, about why the government has been nonresponsive to judicial orders regarding people in ICE detention.

"What do you want me to do? The system sucks," Le told Judge Jerry Blackwell, according to a court transcript. "This job sucks. And I am trying [with] every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need."

When the judge questioned Le regarding why the Trump administration should not be held in contempt for violating court orders, she admited, "I wish you would just hold me in contempt, Your Honor, so that I can have a full 24 hours of sleep. I work day and night just because people are still in there."



Minneapolis resident and U.S. citizen Aliya Rahman describes being detained by ICE

Aliya Rahman, a Minneapolis resident who was detained by immigration agents in January, described her experience to lawmakers at a congressional forum Tuesday, saying she was dragged from her car and denied medical care despite having a disability.

Rahman said that after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents broke her car window, shattering glass over her body, they used a knife to cut her seatbelt off and forcibly removed her from her car. She said she was taken to a detention facility, where she was denied the use of her cane. Despite asking for medical treatment and access to a lawyer, she was held in an interrogation room until she blacked out.

ICE and Mass Deportation: The View From History

Where did ICE raids and mass deportation come from? If you are free next Monday, join eminent historian of immigration Mae Ngai, Lung Family Professor of Asian American Studies and History at Columbia University, for an online talk that will bring critical historical context to the current moment. Open to all. Monday, February 9 at 4pm ET. Register here.

Arden Cho thought she was done — then 'KPop Demon Hunters' changed everything

"At some point, I think I had lost sight of the mission that made me start this work in the first place. But working on this film, I felt a renewed sense of hope and found myself wanting to take on new challenges once again." Fresh off Netflix's biggest movie ever, actress Arden Cho opens up about burnout in Hollywood, her path to Kpop Demon Hunters, and her upcoming Substance-like K-pop horror project.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch x KPop Demon Hunters Box Set

If you wanted to get your hands on the Cinnamon Toast Crunch / Kpop Demon Hunters collaboration -- a limited edition set of two surprise flavor boxes (one for HUNTR/X and one for Saja Boys) -- you're too late! That shit sold out immediately. Dammit.

Donate to AAPIP's Twin Cities Rapid Response Fund

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

AAPIP Twin Cities Rapid Response Fund

As ICE's surge in Minnesota continues, AANHPI-serving organizations are responding, providing legal defense, food assistance, know-your-rights education, and emergency wrap-around support. In times of crisis, community members turn to these trusted organizations for information and support, but they're critically underfunded.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy has developed a Rapid Response Fund, created in direct response to requests from Twin Cities community leaders who needed a fast, trusted way to move resources to AANHPI-serving organizations. The AAPIP Twin Cities Rapid Response Fund will distribute grants to AANHPI-serving nonprofits to help meet their urgent needs during this critical time. Learn more and donate here.

After ICE release St. Paul woman, she says agents keep returning to her home

Thi Dua Vang legally came to the United States two years ago as an asylum seeker and is awaiting final approval for her green card. So when ICE showed up, she thought it must have been a mistake. But she was detained and sent away to a processing center in Texas for nearly two weeks. And then released. Since then, ICE has shown up at her home three times. Why won't they leave her alone?

BTS Returns with Their First Performance in 3 Years — Streaming Live on Netflix

Attention, Army: BTS is back. And they will be celebrating the release of their highly anticipated new album, ARIRANG, next month with a comeback concert on Netflix, streamed live from the historic Gwanghwamun in Seoul. The comeback festivities will also include a feature-length documentary, BTS: The Return, chronicling the making of ARIRANG and the group's return to global icon status.

LANA LIN with Porochista Khakpour

Filmmaker, artist and scholar Lana Lin talks to Porochista Khakpour about art, Asian Americans, "autobiomythography," and her book The Autobiography of H. Lan Thao Lam

F*CK ICE T-Shirt by Sailor Moon Wisdom

ICE has no place in our communities. Tell them how you feel with this t-shirt.

Kpop Demon Hunters Wins a Grammy for "Golden"

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

A Victory for 'Golden' Gives K-Pop Its First Ever Grammy Win

It's not the Idol Awards, but the Grammys ain't bad. "Golden," the anthemic smash hit from Kpop Demon Hunters, has become the first ever K-Pop song to win a Grammy Award. Performed by EJAE (who also co-wrote the song), Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, aka Huntr/x, it won Best Song Written for Visual Media. It was also nominated in three other categories, including Song of the Year. (Alas, Billie Eilish.) Still, things are looking pretty "Golden" for the Oscars next month...

Pardoned auto shop owner freed after rare government reversal

A day after Fong Khang received a pardon from the state of Minnesota, his mug shotlanded on a federal website touting “More Worst of Worst" arrests, packaged between photos of two convicted murderers and two sex offenders. Khang was freed January 28, after seven days in detention, when federal officials deviated from their usual practice and agreed to support his wrongful detention case.

Letter From Minnesota: "If They Take Me and Leave the Children..."

"All these years, that has been my goal. As a writer, I’ve tried hard to tell the stories of my people and others who have fled their homes in search of safety and a future, and now all these years later, I find myself wondering if I still have a home here in Minnesota, in America, in the world of the people who get to decide who is valuable and who is not, who belongs and who does not, who lives and who dies."

Playwright Keiko Green On Pulling Her Play from the Kennedy Center

Last month, Seattle Children's Theatre announced their decision to pull their two-week run of the play Young Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story from the Kennedy Center due to the impact of the Trump administration. Playwright Keiko Green talks about the decision, the fallout and the future of the play.

Kpop Demon Hunters Socks

And now you get these sweet Kpop Demon Hunters Socks. Pre-order from MADMIA

They Call Us Minnesota Nice... But Not For ICE

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.

What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

In this episode, we welcome poet/author/activist Bao Phi and Minnesota Star Tribune columnist Laura Yuen to discuss the ongoing and escalating crackdown by federal immigration operations in Minnesota. They talk about Laura's recent piece about her family and their citizenship; the temperature on the street, particularly in the wake of recent killings by ICE agents; the widespread fear and uncertainty among community members just trying to move through their lives; and the kindness of everyday Minnesotans who are helping each other survive the siege. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of being in Minnesota right now. This episode is sponsored by Chinese Republicans, a new play from Roundabout Theatre Company.

Meet the Restaurant Owner Who Gave Shelter to Protestors

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Minneapolis Restaurant Owner Opened Her Doors for Protesters Seeking Refuge: 'Come In, Come In'

When hell broke loose on the streets of south Minneapolis, where protestors clashed with federal officers -- less than a block from where Alex Pretti had been killed about an hour earlier -- Tracy Wong opened the doors of her restaurant, My Huong Kitchen, for people to take safe refuge from the tear gas and flash bangs, offering water, comfort and a place to recover. Video of Wong in this extraordinary moment has since been shared thousands of times, and the community has come back to her restaurant with thanks and support

Being Hmong in Minnesota's ICE Age

"For over five years, my family and I have been living, working, and commuting across the Twin Cities suburbs. We are Hmong -- the biggest Asian ethnic group in Minnesota. We are scared. We are cautious. We feel like our identity will make us a target. We still go about our everyday lives, but with uncertainty. And we are paying attention, checking for daily updates—observing who is speaking out against what's happening, and those who aren't."

Couple Was Found Dead in Gruesome Scene. Then Cops Allegedly Found Chilling Wishlist

Disturbing, gruesome news out of New Jersey... A 37-year-old man accused of killing his parents in their home has now been charged in connection with their deaths. Patrick Lin was arrested and charged on several accounts, including first-degree murder. When authorities searched his bedroom, they found a notebook with a wishlist that included "to kill someone and get away with it."

It's Now Ronny Chieng's Turn to Be the Voice of NYC Subway PSAs

Comedian Ronny Chieng is the latest entertainer to lend his voice to public service announcements for the MTA's subway service in New York City. If you ride the subway, you might hear him utter some helpful encouragements like, “Can you please move into the train so other people can get on?" Or "Unless it’s old school hip-hop, nobody wants to hear your music or your phone call. Put your headphones on."

LEGO Lucky Cat

This LEGO® Lucky Cat building set creates an eye-catching display piece and is said to bring good luck and prosperity to the owner. Best of all, the paw has a pendulum action to replicate the beckoning or waving of traditional Lucky Cat figurines.

Click Here For Rapid Response Efforts in the Twin Cities

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

AAPIs United in the Twin Cities

This newly established website was created by community volunteers and allies to provide rapid response resources in support of AAPI families and communities who have been harmed by ICE surge in Minnesota. Click through the links for various rapid response efforts underway led by -- and for -- Hmong, Southeast Asian American, and other AAPI communities in the greater Twin Cities.

St. Paul activist Thao Xiong taken by ICE

On Wednesday, immigration agents detained a volunteer food shelf delivery driver at a St. Paul community center. Over the objections of staffers and legal observers, federal agents approached, handcuffed and detained Thao Xiong in the center parking lot, where they can be seen on video forcing him into one of three black SUVs. "I showed them my documents already,” Xiong can be heard attempting to explain.

ICE is a Continuation of American History

"I’m not writing this to call anyone out or even correct anyone. This shit is incredibly bad. But I really do hope that all these people who are just now taking the red pill and seeing America for what it is will also see that it always has been this way and can join forces with us. Those people organizing in Minneapolis and St. Paul (and all the other cities brutalized by ICE) are heroes. I want those people to know they are not inventing something new. They are continuing the fight that has always existed in this country. They should be proud of that, and they should feel connected to that. The Japanese Americans could have used people like that in 1942."

Japanese American soldiers once branded ‘enemy aliens’ to be promoted posthumously

Seven Japanese American soldiers will be promoted to officer ranks in a solemn ceremony Monday, eight decades after they died fighting for the U.S. during World War II despite having been branded "enemy aliens."

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26 New Asian and Pacific Islander Books for your 2026 TBR

A helpful roundup of 26 new books by Asian and Pacific Islander authors to read in 2026.

Pardoned by the State on Tuesday, Picked Up by ICE on Wednesday

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

He was pardoned by the state on Tuesday, picked up by ICE on Wednesday

Fong Khang hoped his legal troubles were over when the Minnesota Board of Pardons unanimously agreed on January 20 to set aside eight convictions -- from crimes committed nearly 20 years ago -- that were threatening his ability to remain in the United States. But less than 24 hours later, federal agents stopped Khang on his way to work and took him into custody. Now he's facing possible deportation.

Cambodian genocide survivor detained by ICE

Sithy Yi fled genocide in Cambodia and came to the U.S. as a refugee in 1981. She was ordered by an immigration court to be removed from the country in 2016, but her removal was withheld out of concerns she would be tortured if she returned to Cambodia. After 10 years complying with ICE instructions and initiating a still-pending visa application, she was detained last month at a regular immigration check-in. Her attorney says Yi's detention was a form of punishment and to instill fear in immigrant communities.

From The "Bamboo Ceiling" To City Hall: Asian American Power In Post-COVID New York

"Recent election cycles in New York City have made one thing clear: coalitions of immigrants and racial minorities are scrambling the old equations of local power. Grassroots organization and victories by progressives -- like Zohran Mamdani's in the recent Mayoral election -- and the creation of new Asian-majority constituencies have created a political landscape that looks markedly different from the one that came before it."

'KPop Demon Hunters' HUNTR/X conquer the charts and claim their destiny

Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami and EJAE -- the singing voices of Huntr/x -- were on All Things Considered to talk about Kpop Demon Hunters and its breakout success. Speaking to NPR's Ailsa Chang, they explored their journeys as artists, the dreams they have for the future of the Kpop Demon Hunters universe and how they've honored their Korean heritage through their work in the film.

The First Look at Long-Awaited ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Toy Lines Is Finally Here

At long last! KPop Demon Hunters has finally given die-hard fans a glimpse at Hasbro and Mattel toy lines. The toy companies unveiled a slew of items at Nuremberg Toy Fair, including new dolls, action figures, collectibles, games and role play items inspired by the hit animated feature.