Netflix's 'Bloodhounds' Season 2 tops global anticipation charts ahead of premiere

27 Mar 2026, 22:20 by K-Soul · allkpop

A Netflix K-action series that shook the world three years ago is returning with even more force. With over a week still left until the release of Season 2, the show has already claimed the No. 1 spot in viewer anticipation rankings. According to Consumer Insight’s “March Week 4, 2026 OTT K-Original Content Viewer Evaluation Report,” it recorded a 23% anticipation rate, far surpassing second-place Yumi’s Cells Season 3 at 18%.

'Bloodhounds Season 2' is set to premiere on April 3. On March 27, Netflix unveiled new action stills from the upcoming season, drawing attention for their explosive intensity. The images tease upgraded hand-to-hand combat with greater impact, speed, and scale, featuring Geon Woo (Woo Do Hwan), Woo Jin (Lee Sang Yi), and new villain Baek Jung (Jung Ji Hoon), all leaving a powerful impression.

A Global No. 1 in Just 7 Days: Season 1’s Impressive Track Record

To understand the hype surrounding Season 2, one must look back at the success of Season 1. Released in June 2023, the eight-episode first season quickly gained explosive popularity. According to FlixPatrol, it topped Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV category within just seven days of release. It ranked No. 1 in 22 countries, including Korea, Japan, Brazil, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Turkey, and entered the Top 10 in 40 countries, including Brazil, France, and Mexico. The series amassed approximately 28 million viewing hours in its first week alone, proving the global appeal of K-action. Its IMDb rating of 8.8 further reflected its high quality. The story of two young men taking on the world of illegal loan sharks with their bare fists resonated across borders.

A Bigger Stage: Global Illegal Boxing League and Rain’s First Villain Role

Season 2 raises the stakes entirely. Moving beyond the domestic loan shark underworld, the story now unfolds within a global illegal boxing league ruled by money and violence. In Season 1, aspiring boxing champion Geon Woo (Woo Do Hwan) and former Marine Woo Jin (Lee Sang Yi) fought against ruthless loan shark Kim Myeong Gil (Park Sung Woong). This time, they face an even greater evil.

The most eye-catching addition is the new villain. Baek Jung, the operator of the global illegal boxing league, makes a dangerous offer to Geon Woo, now a champion: “I’ll give you 10 billion KRW. Let’s have just one match.” When Geon Woo refuses, Baek Jung turns his blade toward him, Woo Jin, and everyone they seek to protect.

Baek Jung is played by singer-actor Jung Ji Hoon (Rain), marking his first full-fledged villain role since his debut. Described as a “human weapon” with power, speed, and technique, the character is ruthless and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Director Kim Joo Hwan explained, “Baek Jung is like a massive tiger—he hunts alone, more ferocious and lethal than anyone. I believed only Jung Ji Hoon could embody that overwhelming aura, physical presence, and action capability needed to threaten Geon Woo.” Attention is now focused on how Jung Ji Hoon will fill the void left by Park Sung Woong’s memorable villain performance in Season 1.

Real Training, Real Fights: The Actors’ Intense Preparation

Woo Do Hwan and Lee Sang Yi recently signaled their return through a pictorial and interview in the April issue of Esquire. Both actors underwent intense physical training once again. Woo Do Hwan shared, “I’ve been weight training for nearly 10 years, but Bloodhounds Season 1 was the first time I truly trained properly. I still go to the gym almost every day. I trained extensively to show a stronger version of Geon Woo in Season 2.”

Lee Sang Yi also took things further. “While I learned boxing for acting in Season 1, preparing for Season 2 made me realize the true appeal of boxing,” he said, revealing that he even competed in an amateur boxing tournament. He described the new season’s appeal as going beyond bromance into “bro-melo.” Action director Jung Sung Ho explained that Woo Do Hwan’s fighting style evolves from heavy, traditional power boxing into a more unpredictable, complete fighter, while Lee Sang Yi’s style emphasizes agile footwork, sharp combinations, and calculated movement.

“This Is My The Roundup” — Explosive Reactions to the Trailer

Viewer reactions have been overwhelmingly positive following the trailer release. Comments such as “This is The Roundup for me,” “I casually started Season 1 and ended up binge-watching it overnight—it was so good,” “My most anticipated show of the year,” “Woo Do Hwan’s physique is insane—can’t wait for the action,” and “There’s no way I’m missing Bloodhounds Season 2” flooded online platforms.

Reactions to Jung Ji Hoon’s villain transformation have been more mixed but equally intense: “There’s madness in Rain’s eyes—excited for his acting transformation,” “He looks like a completely different person,” “Can he live up to Park Sung Woong’s villain from Season 1?” and “Rain as a villain feels fresh—could go either way.”

'Bloodhounds Season 2' will be released worldwide on Netflix on April 3.

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