Apple TV+ has announced an exciting venture into Seoul with the upcoming music competition series, "KPOPPED," as revealed on Wednesday. Featuring the Grammy-adorned rapper Megan Thee Stallion and the beloved K-Pop icon Psy, this eight-episode song battle extravaganza boasts executive production prowess from Lionel Richie and Miky Lee of CJ ENM. The colossal Korean entertainment entity CJ ENM, alongside Eureka Productions, have joined forces to bring this production to life.
The show's synopsis paints a vivid picture: "In each thrilling episode, western legends reimagine their iconic hits, teaming up with elite K-Pop idols to deliver breathtaking battle performances. A live audience in Seoul will then decide the winner of the best new K-Popped song, adding an electric charge to the already intense competition."
Moira Ross, Megan Thee Stallion, and Greg Foster will also take on executive producer roles, joined by Harry H.K. Shin and Jake Hong. Kiwoong Kim will oversee production for CJ ENM, while Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Wes Dening, and David Tibballs will lead the executive production for Eureka Productions, with Bruce Eskowitz on board.
This marks Apple TV+'s second foray into K-Pop-focused content within the past year. In August, the streamer unveiled the docuseries "K-Pop Idols," an eight-episode journey that delved into the lives of three K-Pop acts: Blackswan, the boy group Cravity, and soloist Jessi.
The documentary didn't shy away from the raw realities of the industry, capturing moments of internal strife and the challenges of adapting to new surroundings. Speaking before its release, Blackswan member Gabi shared with The Hollywood Reporter, "When I came to Korea, they were already recording the documentary." Alongside fellow trainee Sriya, the 21-year-old was introduced as they strived to earn their place in Blackswan. She further elaborated, "This documentary serves as a stark reminder that behind the glitz and glam of idol life, nothing is perfect. As [group member Fatou] pointed out, we are human beings too, existing beyond the carefully curated images projected through the camera."
A release date for "KPOPPED" is still pending confirmation, leaving fans eagerly anticipating this musical showdown.
