Amid Kim Soo-hyun’s alleged scandals involving the late Kim Sae-ron and former co-star Seo Ye-ji, his supposed upcoming Disney+ K-drama ‘Knock Off’ with Jo Bo-ah is reportedly facing difficulties with its release as sponsors have raised concerns following his controversies.
Media reporters have shared that the drama is now at risk of possible cancellation, as patrons are reconsidering their financial support for the show.
The stakes are even higher in this situation, as despite the massive loss of brand support, the series had already been approved for a second season before its release. Growing allegations have led industry insiders to suggest that, in light of this, Disney+ “may pursue a massive breach of contract lawsuit against Kim Soo-hyun.”
As per Koreaboo, it is on average that celebrity contracts for dramas, movies or brand endorsement involve a morality clause that has been implemented, calling for the main lead/s of the show to maintain a favorable public image. The celebrity in this case may be held financially responsible for potentially harming the project or the brand if they are to be subject to any controversy.
An industry expert referenced Netflix’s lawsuit against Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey, to illustrate how Kim Soo-hyun’s situation might develop after the aforementioned actor’s allegations of sexual harassment, which got him fired from Netflix series “House of Cards.”
The insider shared, “Disney+ is considered a global OTT company, just like Netflix. If an actor’s personal controversy causes financial damages, chances are that he will be held liable. Kim Soo-hyun’s response to the situation will play an important role in deciding the outcome.”
“Knock Off” had a ₩60 billion (₱2,364,840,182.31) budget, with 10-20% for Kim Soo Hyun. As one of Korea’s highest-paid actors, earning ₩500-800M (₱19-31 million) per episode, his pay for the 8-episode series is estimated at over ₩5 billion (₱197,086,596.68).
In the case that Disney+ is to take legal action against Soo-hyun, he would need to compensate for his appearance fee together with the damages incurred due to production delays or, ultimately, the cancellation of the show. Around 20-30% of the total production cost in damages, according to industry standards, would be the cost of the actor’s requirement to cover in these scenarios.
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