Squid Game Maker Confirms Plans for Season Two: “It Will Happen”
The nine-episode series Squid Game became Netflix’s greatest series ever — and the first to achieve 100 million views — “just 17 days” after its Sept. 17 release “and 111 million global followers,” according to the streaming service. The Korean series dominated the cultural debate for weeks, received a high-profile media blitz, and inspired a slew of Halloween costumes, all without the usual red carpet flurry in Los Angeles or New York that comes with popular series, especially ones starring foreign performers.
Netflix rolled out the red carpet at Neuehouse Hollywood on Monday night for a special screening and Q&A with creator Hwang Dong-hyuk and stars Lee Jung-Jae, Park Hae-soo, and Jung Ho-Yeon. Director Hwang was the first to admit that since landing in Los Angeles, many of his meetings, particularly with the press, have revolved around the same question: When will season two be released?
“I do have a basic storyline for season two — it’s all in my head — and I am currently in the brainstorming stage,” the writer-director told The Hollywood Reporter through a translator. “It will happen, someday, but as for when I cannot tell you the details.”
When reached for comment on the status of season two, a Netflix spokesperson said, “A second season is in discussions, but not confirmed yet.”
#JungHoYeon at the #SquidGame event in Los Angeles, USA today pic.twitter.com/KAo3OYWhfH
— 𝚊𝚑𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒 | kei enjoyer (@daheeverse) November 9, 2021
Seong Gi-hun, Lee’s character, receives a mysterious invitation to play a game in Squid Game. The invitation, which was sent to 456 people, welcomes (desperate) people from all walks of life before locking them up at a hidden location where they compete in a series of traditional Korean children’s activities. As the competitors compete for a chance to win 45.6 billion won in prize money that will help them escape their agony, losing means death.
Fans went wild for the series, and Hwang told THR he felt the pressure for another season-long before he arrived in Los Angeles. “There was a lot of pressure for season two even when I was in Korea, so I have felt that pressure for a long time. We get on YouTube and see people that have already written season two and season three for us,” he explained with a laugh. “Coming here and really seeing how well-received the show is and how much the fans want it, I have been getting the same question by the press as well.”
Though he would not offer details, he did tease one general theme: “What I can say is that Gi-hun is going to be back, and he will do something for the world.”
Lee claimed there’s no secret to avoiding spoiling what’s to come because “I don’t even know what’s going to happen” after hearing the massive plans for his character.
Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-chief executive officer and chief content officer, asked the Squid Game cast and creator to supper over the weekend, implying that the plans were made. Hwang remarked, “Ted Sarandos cordially welcomed us to his home and presented us with a great, amazing dinner.” “So, it was a lot of fun.”