Amidst the controversy surrounding actor Kim Soo Hyun and the late Kim Sae Ron, Disney+ has postponed the release of 'Knock-Off,' affecting co-star Jo Bo Ah.
On March 21, a Disney+ representative told OSEN, “After careful consideration, we have decided to put the release plans for 'Knock-Off' on hold.”
Kim Soo Hyun is facing intense backlash, with multiple brands terminating their contracts with him and MBC’s variety show 'Good Day' completely editing out his scenes and canceling this week’s broadcast for reorganization. As a result, 'Knock-Off,' originally planned for release in the first half of the year, has been indefinitely delayed.
Although Disney+ never officially announced 'Knock-Off' as an April release, it was widely expected to follow 'Hyper Knife' in the streaming lineup. Internally, the platform had been finalizing the premiere date and press conference details right up until the controversy surrounding Kim Sae Ron erupted.
With 'Knock-Off' on hold, Jo Bo Ah’s comeback project has also been postponed.
Jo Bo Ah last appeared in JTBC’s 'Destined with You,' which concluded in October 2023. A year later, in October 2024, she married her longtime non-celebrity boyfriend. Shortly after, she and Kim Soo Hyun attended the Disney Content Showcase APAC 2024 at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore for a press conference.
In 'Knock-Off,' Jo Bo Ah plays Song Ye Jung, a district office official who investigates counterfeit goods, opposite Kim Soo Hyun’s character, Kim Sung Joon. Speaking about working with Kim Soo Hyun, she previously stated, “Although this is my first time acting alongside him, his expressive gaze and voice tone make it easy to immerse myself in the scene. Thanks to him, I felt comfortable on set and relied on him a lot during filming.” She added, “While we didn’t have many scenes together, I look forward to developing more chemistry in the future.”
'Knock-Off' was highly anticipated as Jo Bo Ah’s first project after marriage, featuring Kim Soo Hyun in the lead role and a massive 60 billion KRW (~45 million USD) production budget. However, the unforeseen “Kim Soo Hyun scandal" has cast uncertainty over its release.
Despite this setback, Jo Bo Ah is also set to appear in the Netflix series 'Tangum,' scheduled for a 2025 release, though the exact date has not been determined. It is now expected to be her first comeback project post-marriage.
Meanwhile, Kim Soo Hyun has effectively halted his activities in Korea due to the ongoing controversy but will proceed with his overseas schedule. His first official appearance will be at a fan meeting in Taiwan, where authorities are taking extra security measures.
According to Taiwan’s ET Today on March 21, Kim Soo Hyun is set to attend the Kaohsiung Cherry Blossom Festival on March 30, organized by a convenience store brand, and will hold a fan meeting there. Reports indicate that 50 police officers will be deployed at the event, with law enforcement prepared to intervene in case of any illegal or disorderly conduct.
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