Strangely, in Malaysia, we don’t have many Malay-language musical films or series. The most iconic examples, of course, came from P. Ramlee’s era, particularly the “Bujang Lapok” franchise, “Tiga Abdul”, and “Madu Tiga”. So when KRU released “Magika” in 2010, it became one of their most successful projects.
Not only is the film a musical, but it is also set in a fantasy realm featuring characters from local folklore. Back then, many called for a sequel, and it seems the brothers are finally set to grant their wishes. However, the long-awaited announcement has not been met with enthusiasm, as it has received largely negative reactions. Here’s why:
Earlier this week, Datuk Norman Abdul Halim, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of KRU Entertainment Sdn Bhd, confirmed to Bernama that the script for “Magika 2” is currently in development, with production scheduled to take place between July and September next year, in 2026. According to the report, the sequel is expected to be released in 2027.
“For the first Magika film, we managed to recruit an A-list and legendary cast. For the upcoming sequel, we would like to maintain the same benchmark,” he said in his announcement. Normally, news like this would excite fans, as it is something they had long been asking for. However, this time, the announcement was not well-received. Netizens took to social media to express that they no longer want the project to become a reality, as they suspect the studio will use generative AI in its production.
The criticism stems from KRU’s use of the technology in their comeback music video for “Voodoo” last year, which was met with backlash — particularly after it won an Anugerah Industri Muzik award in the Best Music Video category. Many expressed that they no longer trust KRU, criticising the group for using generative AI despite running creative businesses and an academy. Some, however, remain hopeful and are willing to give the sequel a chance, urging the brothers to avoid generative AI in production and to stick to traditional visual effects instead.
KRU has yet to respond to the backlash or reassure fans that no generative AI will be used in the film. For now, we will have to wait and see when the first official teaser trailer is released next year. How did you react to the announcement?
