BTS: The Return docu trailer and lead single Swim’s teaser drop ahead of Arirang release

SEOUL – BTS have unveiled the trailer for their upcoming documentary film BTS: The Return, offering a glimpse into the K-pop boy band’s journey as they prepare for the release of their comeback record, Arirang, on March 20.

Released on Netflix and BTS’ official social media channels on March 17, the trailer traces their past, present and future, as the seven members look back on their career and shape the next chapter.

The trailer features scenes from their previous world tour, the members’ discharge from the military as well as songwriting sessions in Los Angeles. It reinforces the idea that the comeback is rooted in the notion of going forward from where they left off.

With the traditional Korean folk song, Arirang, playing in the background, the trailer carries emotional depth.

In the footage, the members reflect on the pressures and expectations surrounding their long-awaited comeback.

“Trends shift every season. Standing still isn’t an option,” BTS leader RM says in the trailer. As clips of the members show them under stress, he is also heard emphasising the importance of authenticity for the upcoming album.

And member Jin can be heard saying that “it is a lot of pressure” for the album. The band also comprise Suga, J-Hope, Jungkook, V and Jimin.

The members revisit their beginnings, remarking that they are “still country boys from Korea”, underscoring the group’s connection to their roots – a theme that aligns with the central message of the record.

The trailer also captures quieter, everyday moments of the group spending time together, such as them swimming and strolling by the beach.

RM recalls having spent half of his life with the BTS members, calling them his second family.

BTS: The Return is set to premiere exclusively on Netflix on March 27, six days after the streaming platform provides an exclusive broadcast of the group’s performance at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.

The documentary is directed by American film-maker Bao Nguyen, whose Netflix documentary The Greatest Night In Pop (2024) received a Grammy nomination for Best Music Film and three Emmy nominations.

BTS also unveiled a 17-second teaser for their new lead single Swim on March 18, drawing attention to not only the song, but also the high-profile names attached to the music video.

The clip opens with a woman running through an empty museum, scanning the exhibitions before stopping in front of a large ship installation. The scene then transitions to a shimmering ocean, ending with the word “Swim” appearing over calm waves.

The woman featured is American actress Lili Reinhart (Riverdale, 2017 to 2023), who is also expected to appear in the full music video. It is directed by Tanu Muino, a globally recognised Ukrainian director who worked on Jungkook’s Standing Next To You (2023), as well as projects with Jennie, Post Malone, Doja Cat and Dua Lipa.

“The teaser is too short to draw concrete conclusions, but casting Tanu Muino and Lili Reinhart suggests a clear intention to target the Western pop market,” music critic Lim Hee-yun said. “It does not seem strongly connected to the album title Arirang.”

Swim is described as an upbeat alternative pop track whose production involved 10 songwriters, most of whom are internationally based. RM and long-time BTS producer Pdogg are the only Korean names listed in the credits.

RM took the lead in writing the lyrics, with the boy band’s agency BigHit Music saying the song reflects the group’s current mindset after military service and reuniting as a group. The track conveys a message of continuing to move forward through the waves of life without stopping.

Muino is known for maximising artistes’ visual appeal and has earned back-to-back Grammy nominations for Best Music Video with Lil Nas X’s Montero (Call Me By Your Name) in 2022 and Harry Styles’ As It Was in 2023.

The choice of collaborators could also be part of BTS’ broader strategy to strengthen their presence in the US market, and perhaps position them for a Grammy win. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK