In a move set to excite fans of both K-pop and global thrillers, Lee Jung-jae, the acclaimed star of Squid Game, has announced a significant partnership between his Artist Company and Andy Serkis’s Imaginarium Productions. The collaboration aims to bring “Secret Idol” (working title) to the screen, a live-action film that promises to merge the high-stakes world of K-pop glamour with international espionage.
Secret Idol is planned as a spy thriller centred on an undercover agent who assumes the identity of a K-pop trainee. This premise sets up a dual challenge for the protagonist: navigating the intense competition of the idol industry while simultaneously undertaking a dangerous mission against a global criminal network.
Artist Company, co-founded by Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung, has expanded its reach beyond talent management to become a full-service entertainment company. They are working closely with Imaginarium Productions from the early stages of the project, jointly developing the story and production strategy.
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A representative from Artist Studio commented on the venture, stating, “Secret Idol will be an innovative project that proves the global scalability of K-pop, a Korean content, and opens up all-around possibilities.” They added, “Through collaboration with Imaginarium, we will present content with universality and popularity that global audiences can empathise with.”
Imaginarium Productions, co-founded in 2011 by actor-director Andy Serkis (known for his performance-capture roles as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings and Caesar in Planet of the Apes) and producer Jonathan Cavendish, has built a strong reputation for innovative storytelling. Their past projects include films like Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle and the Netflix series The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself. Notably, Imaginarium is also currently developing The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum with Warner Bros., slated for 2027.
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Discussions are underway for casting options that may include Hollywood actors, and the teams are open to partnering with additional global distributors and production companies as Secret Idol progresses. This collaboration between a leading Korean entertainment company and a prominent British production studio signals an ambitious push into the international market, aiming to deliver content with broad global appeal.
