All Eyes on Kim Soo-hyun: Disney+ Suspends “Knock-Off” Filming Indefinitely — What’s Next for the $44M Drama?

On April 23, SPOTV News reported that production on Knock-Off has been indefinitely suspended, following prior announcements that its release had already been delayed with no scheduled premiere. The production team has officially notified cast and crew that all filming will pause for the foreseeable future.

A Drama That Once Carried Global Hype

Knock-Off is a big-budget series chronicling the story of a man whose life is overturned during the IMF crisis, transforming from an ordinary office worker into a global counterfeit market kingpin. With Kim Soo-hyun and Jo Bo-ah in leading roles, the series was highly anticipated even before its release, with plans for multiple seasons already in place. It was touted as one of Disney+’s flagship K-dramas for 2025.

With a production budget estimated at 60 billion KRW (approx. $44 million USD), Knock-Off was progressing steadily—until controversy engulfed its lead actor.

Controversy, Delays, and Now a Halt in Production

Kim Soo-hyun became embroiled in a scandal involving the late actress Kim Sae-ron. Allegations emerged that he had dated her while she was still a minor, and that he pressured her—through a company he and his family partly owned—to repay debts from a drunk driving accident during her time of financial hardship.

Kim’s team has strongly denied these accusations, insisting on his innocence through multiple statements and a tearful emergency press conference. However, public scrutiny has not died down.

Amid escalating speculation, the Knock-Off team initially announced an indefinite delay in the series' release, citing a need for “careful review” of the situation surrounding the lead actor. Behind the scenes, internal discussions continued, especially as the series was already nearing the end of its production. A complete 18-episode script, including the final storyline, had been completed.

Yet now, the project has officially entered a full production halt. According to insiders, the crew and actors were recently notified: “Filming is indefinitely suspended.” Though a few scenes reportedly remain, the message was clear — there will be no additional filming for the time being. Some cast and crew have since moved on to other schedules.

Will Knock-Off Ever See the Light of Day?

Despite the current suspension, industry insiders say it’s unlikely that the drama will be permanently shelved. The decision to resume filming will likely hinge on how Kim Soo-hyun’s legal and public situation unfolds.

Currently, Kim’s legal team is pursuing a 120 billion KRW (approx. $88 million USD) defamation lawsuit against individuals including the operator of the controversial YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, who has released photos and personal allegations related to the case.

The future of Knock-Off, once positioned as a prestige drama for Disney+, now rests on how—and if—this storm surrounding its star will settle.

Get the latest on K-pop & K-drama here!