On March 31, multiple posts appeared on online communities claiming to have received response emails from Disney+ headquarters.

To users who inquired about Kim Soo-hyun’s appearance in the drama, Disney+ replied, “‘Knock-Off’ is not on the current release schedule for Disney+.“

One netizen who made such an inquiry explained, “Previously, there had been complete silence when asking about ‘Knock-Off’, but now responses are finally coming in.”

Earlier, Disney+ announced the indefinite postponement of Kim Soo-hyun’s upcoming drama “Knock-Off“.

A Disney+ representative confirmed the delay on March 21, stating, “After careful review, we have decided to put the release of ‘Knock-Off’ on hold.“

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“Knock-Off” follows the story of a man whose life is turned upside down due to the IMF crisis. Once an ordinary office worker, he rises to become a dominant figure in the global counterfeit goods market.

The drama was originally expected to premiere in April, and excitement was high after Kim Soo-hyun and co-star Jo Bo-ah introduced the series at the Disney+ Global Content Showcase in Singapore last November. With a massive production budget and plans for a second season, the sudden postponement has left many wondering when—if ever—the series will be released.

In particular, industry insiders are speculating that if “Knock-Off“, which reportedly had a production budget of 60 billion KRW, ends up being scrapped entirely, Kim Soo-hyun could be liable to pay penalties ranging from 18 billion to as much as 180 billion KRW. This is because, in the entertainment industry, if a project is canceled due to personal issues of an actor, the penalty is typically 2 to 3 times the production cost.

Kim Soo-hyun is currently facing allegations related to his past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron, including claims of underage dating, which have been fueled by YouTube channel Garosero Institute. He and his agency Gold Medalist denied the accusations, leading to an ongoing public dispute.

Given the sensitive nature of these allegations, industry insiders suggest that Disney+ may have found it too risky to move forward with the release. As the situation unfolds, the future of “Knock-Off” remains uncertain.