There have been rumours and speculation, but now it’s official: Squid Game has been renewed for a second season.
Netflix execs, as well as writer, director and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk and the main cast, had teased a second instalment following the runaway success of the first.
Since Squid Game ended last year, many fans have been begging for a second season. People speculated about who lived and died and how Seong Gi-hun could infiltrate the game and bring everyone down in a second season. Admittedly, I was not one of them because I actually liked where the show ended and didn’t feel a second season was necessary. But here we are.
Season 2 has now been given the go-ahead. Cheol-su confirmed the new chapter in a letter to fans and mentioned who might return for it and which new character would join the show.
“Gi-hun returns. The front man returns,” he said. “The man in the suit ddakji might be back. You also will be introduced to Young-hee’s boyfriend, Cheol-su.”
Hwang Dong-hyuk also commented on the series’ road to the screen and massive success.
“It took 12 years to bring the first season of Squid Game to life last year,” he said. “But it took 12 days for Squid Game to become the most popular series ever.”
Season 1 of Squid Game was history making
In the first episode, after accepting an ominous invitation to play a series of children’s games, 456 players fight for their lives for a chance to win a cash prize of $38 million that increases to billions through the season.
The series becomes very dark when the competitors learn that every challenge has the potential of injury or death. While watching the bloody games, viewers discover more about each player, including Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), who lived with his mother after getting divorced before competing in the harsh contest.
The series made history at the 2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards by becoming the first non-English-language series and first Korean series to receive a nomination for cast in a drama series, actor in a drama series (Lee Jung-jae), actress in a drama series (Jung Ho-yeon), and stunt ensemble.
During its first 28 days of release, it received 1.65 billion views. Currently, Squid Game holds the record for the most watched Netflix series – English-language or non-English-language – by a wide margin, and the Korean drama did so mainly through word of mouth.
See Hwang Dong-hyuk’s letter below.
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