Indonesian studio MD Entertainment will release a sequel to its 2025 horror smash "Pabrik Gula" in early 2028, according to Astrid Wienardi, the company’s head of content licensing and global business. Wienardi shared this news during a presentation at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF) in Taipei on Sunday.
The studio also has three Imax films planned for 2027. One of these titles will draw on "Dhot Design," a YouTube animated series about four friends that pulls between 8 million and 10 million views an episode. MD Entertainment began its Imax relationship with "Badarawuhi," the prequel to "KKN di Desa Penari," which was the first Southeast Asian film shot for the format.
The studio's decision to commit to a second installment of "Pabrik Gula" was persuaded by its hooks and popularity, as the film sold more than 5 million tickets in Indonesia before traveling to Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, the U.S. and Europe.
MD Entertainment is currently planning 12 to 13 releases for 2027, with horror leading the lineup alongside drama and comedy. The studio has more than 200 features to its name and maintains strategic partnerships with Lionsgate and CJ.
Wienardi explained that the studio uses fan feedback and social media comments to decide whether to extend series, create spin-offs, or grow franchises. For example, a second season of the Netflix drama "Ipar Adalah Maut," which Wienardi translated as "Brother-in-Law Is Death," is in the works and could launch on Netflix next year. The series topped the streamer’s trending list in its first week and remained in the top 10 for seven straight weeks.
The studio also manages a significant presence on other platforms. It has eight titles on Netflix and three on WeTV, where seven of the platform’s top 20 titles are MD productions. On Prime Video, the mother-daughter series "Induk Gajah" ("Mother Elephant") received a Season 2 order soon after its 2023 debut. Additionally, a deal with iQIYI, unveiled in mid-October, will see two titles roll out by December and a third in the first quarter of 2027.
Regarding the music industry, the Netflix series "Suara Hati" generated 100,000 first-week downloads across Spotify and YouTube Music. The song "Bakti," a song from "Danyang: Mahar Tukar Nyawa," which opened Nov. 5, has passed 200,000 downloads on Spotify.
Wienardi stated that the company’s "golden rule" is that universal appeal should never mean stripping away local identity, noting that CEO Manoj Punjabi demands that "soul" at every greenlight meeting. The studio wants folklore-rooted horror rather than "watered-down thrillers or any Hollywood-like thrillers."
When asked about the dominance of Indonesian films over Taiwanese films in the local market, Wienardi attributed it to Indonesia’s population of roughly 280 million and a deep well of haunting folklore that parents pass to their children. She noted that spiritual taboos are actually discussed on family dinners in mountainous areas. While horror crosses borders easily, she noted that drama is a bit different because there are many sayings in Indonesia that probably are not translated or culturally translated well.
MD Entertainment is also looking toward international cooperation. The studio released adaptations of Thai and Korean properties this year and has fielded co-production inquiries from U.S. and European producers. Wienardi expressed interest in bringing Taiwanese and East Asian IP to Indonesia, provided the pitches arrive with proof of concept, a clear fit for Indonesian viewers and a track record in their home market.
The studio also took control of the free-to-air channel NET TV in a deal worth up to $105 million, which includes investment from Korea’s SBS. Data from this channel determines whether a program is extended or changed, with the ultimate goal of reaching Indonesia’s top five.
