The moment Squid Game received a green flag in 2022 for the second season, the fans of the thriller are perched on the edge of their seats, anticipating for its arrival on Netflix, to experience the chill run through their spin all over again. Unfortunately, fans would have to contain their brimming excitement for the second season might not stream on Netflix in 2023 at all.
For those unversed, Squid Game constitutes a high-stakes game where 456 people compete to survive. These games are exaggerated versions of the classical Korean kids’ games, staking the lives of the participants to win an exorbitant prize pot. With the prize destined to be bestowed in the hands of only one winner among 456, things are bound to get beastly and relationships are fated to falter. It took the show’s creator, Emmy winner Hwang Dong-hyuk 6 months to write the first two episodes of Squid Game. How much time will season 2 take?
Find out to know all the latest updates about Squid Game season 2.
When was Squid Game officially renewed for a second season?
This sensational Korean drama was renewed for a second season on June 12, 2022 by Netflix. The announcement was made on the official Twitter account, saying, “Gi-hun returns. The Front Man returns. Season 2 is coming. The man in the suit with ddakji might be back. You’ll also be introduced to Young-hee’s boyfriend, Cheol-su. Join us once more for a whole new round!”
Considering how things went gory in the first season, we speculate that there will be a whole new round of cast members in the second instalment. Lately, the internet has observed a lot of ruckus surrounding the recent casting announcement of Squid Game season 2. (Read more about it below)
Red light… GREENLIGHT!
Squid Game is officially coming back for Season 2! pic.twitter.com/4usO2Zld39
— Netflix (@netflix) June 12, 2022
What is the overall performance of Squid Game season one on Netflix?
Dethroning Bridgerton from its highest place by breaking its record for the most-viewed Netflix original series, Squid Game has amassed a plethora of critical acclaim and phenomenal reviews ever since it premiered on the streaming giant on September 17th, 2021. Seldom has any show received an impeccable critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Enter Squid Game with a critic score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.
From being nominated for the Bingeworthy Show of the Year Award to People’s Choice Awards, Squid Game’s popularity was so exponential during its release that it was given a swift season two renewal, despite it being ordered for only one originally.
During Netflix’s fourth-quarter 2021 earnings interview, Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-CEO, and the chief content officer, was interviewed about whether the streaming giant’s breakout series would be renewed for a second season. Sarandos responded, “Absolutely. The Squid Game universe has just begun.”
Not only that, but Hwang Dong-hyuk, the show’s creator, also confirmed the news to the Associated Press, disclosing that a new season is in the works. He explained, “There’s been so much pressure, so much demand and so much love for a second season. So I almost feel like you leave us no choice!” Hwang said. “But I will say there will indeed be a second season. It’s in my head right now. I’m in the planning process currently. But I do think it’s too early to say when and how that’s going to happen.”
What to expect from Squid Game season 2?
Season one, unfortunately, turned into a maelstrom of violence and gory, leading to the death of a majority of characters. This despair was echoed in the statement made by the show’s creator who, while renewing the show for the second season, said to Reuters:
“So many characters died, especially beloved ones died. I’m sorry I killed them so easily; I didn’t know this was coming…I want to revive Ji-young, but her best friend Sae-byeok also died, so I’m thinking what to do.”
In September 2022, Dong-hyuk shared an unreleased clip from season one, which instantly took flight on the internet. Described as “the shocking reveal of Front Man” by Netflix, in the video, a man is seen carrying a bag of goldfish before the camera zooms on his face.
What does the goldfish signify? Only season 2 can tell.
TVGuide contends, “You ever play that game at a carnival where you throw ping pong balls at bowls of goldfish? Maybe that will be one of the games in Season 2, except instead of goldfish, they’re sharks, and instead of ping pong balls, it’s other people!”
No matter what happens in Squid Game season 2, in addition to “a whole new round” of games, we contend that the upcoming installment of this South Korean thriller will advertently foreground the Frontman. In an interview with The Times, Dong-hyuk said, “While I was writing Season 1, I thought about the stories that could be in Season 2 if I get to do one — one would be the story of the Frontman.”
Elsewhere, in conversation with E! News, he disclosed that he already has a “set outline”, saying, “I have a treatment of a whole Season 2 episode with new games and new characters. I like it. I think it’s good. It’s better than what I expected.”
On March 19th, 2022, Hwang unraveled what could go down in season 2, while in conversation with Deadline. Hwang said:
“There will be more great games, that’s all I can say. I’m just still brainstorming and collecting the ideas for Season 2. I haven’t even started with the writing yet.”
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the creator Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed the possible tangents the brand new season of this adrenaline-hitting, thrill-rushing series could offer. He said:
“But there are some other stories in the series that have not been addressed. For example, the story of the police officer and the story of his brother, the Front Man. So if I end up creating season two, I’d like to explore that storyline — what is going on between those two brothers? And then I could also go into the story of that recruiter in the suit who plays the game of ddakji with Gi-hun and gives him the card in the first episode. And, of course, we could go with Gi-hun’s story as he turns back, and explore more about how he’s going to navigate through his reckoning with the people who are designing the games. So, I don’t know yet, but I’ll just say there are a lot of possibilities out there for season two storylines.”
Who are the expected cast members of Squid Game Season 2?
Owing to a large number of deaths in season one, we don’t expect a majority of the cast members to return for the reprisal of their respective roles in the upcoming season. Consequently, we expect a whole other coterie of new characters to be introduced in the future.
However, as per a tweet by Dong-hyuk, the main character, Seong Gi-hun, aka Player 456, whose role is reprised by Lee Jung-jae, will return, along with The Front Man, reprised by Lee Byung-hun. Dong-hyuk also teased, “The man in the suit with ddakji might be back.”
Recently on June 15, STAR NEWS announced that Im Siwan is all set to lead Squid Game season 2. However, in responding to the report, an official source from Netflix Korea stated:
“We ask for your understanding that we cannot currently confirm regarding the casting for ‘Squid Game’ Season 2.” A source from Im Siwan’s agency PLUM A&C also stated, “It is information we cannot confirm. We ask for your understanding.”
Recently, during Netflix’s TUDUM: Global Fan Event, the streaming giant revealed who will be returning to reprise their roles for Squid Game season 2. The streaming service also shared a short video which is posted to Instagram. This short teaser confirmed the arrival of Lee Jung-Jae, who would reprise Seong Gi-hun, Lee Byung-hun, who would reprise his role as Front Man, and Wi Ha-jun as police detective Jun-ho.
Joining this coterie is Train to Busan lead Gong Yoo as the Recruiter, aka “The man in the suit with ddakji.”
Satiating the excitement of the fans, the short video also introduces us to “the new players” as they individually appear on the screen. The first is Unlocked’ star, singer, and actor Yim Si-wan, then we are introduced to Kang Ha-nuel, Park Sung-hoon and Yang Dong-geun. At the time of writing this article, Netflix has not revealed which characters these new additions will be donning.
Despite the fans’ growing excitement about the new casting announcements, they were smart to point out the paucity of any women in the casting team.
Addressing the backlash, Netflix appeases the fans by saying that season two’s leading ladies will be announced in the future. A Netflix’s spokesperson told Insider, “This was the first cast announcement for Squid Game season two. We’re excited to share more casting news soon, which will include the leading female characters.”
What is the production status of Squid Game Season 2?
Some good news on your way! Earlier, while speaking to Ilgan Sports, star Lee Jung-jae who plays Seong Gi-hun, shared that Squid Game season 2 will begin filming this summer. Although we don’t have concrete information mark where exactly is Squid Game season 2 in production, we know for sure that it has begun now.
However, you can take this crumb of information as a cushion to the main blow, which, according to the star, is that the second season might take even longer to film than season one because (deep breaths), it’s going to be grander and more thrilling than its predecessor. Jung-jae shared:
“Anyways, ‘Squid Game 2’ will begin filming in the summer and the filming will likely last for about 10 months. We were working on season 1 for about 10 months as well, but that was with delays caused by COVID-19. But seeing as season 2 will be bigger in scale, it will probably take longer to complete.”
However, as per the controversial reports, the actors are allegedly put under strenuous conditions for the filming of Squid Game season 2. Be that as it may, Netflix stands opposed to these claims.
Studio Lambert, The Garden, and Netflix said in a joint statement: “We care deeply about the health and safety of our cast and crew, and invested in all the appropriate safety procedures. While it was very cold on set – and participants were prepared for that – any claims of serious injury are untrue.” (via Digital Spy)
When can we expect Squid Game season 2 to release on Netflix?
Considering that Squid Game season 2 has begun filming in summer 2023, we don’t expect it to complete before 2024. We presume that the show will take at least 10 months or even longer for production since it took 10 months for the first season to complete production. Not only that but add six months for post-production and promotion. Based on this analysis, we expect the second season of Squid Game season 2 to arrive on Netflix in 2025.
Will there be a Squid Game Season 3?
Squid Game season two renewal led to the emergence of rumors concerning the release of the third season. Interestingly, the creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk joked with IndieWire that he wanted to bring Leonardo DiCaprio in for season 3.
Be that as it may, Netflix has not officially announced the renewal of Squid Game season 3. However, if we use our brains for a second here, then a third season of this bone-chilling thriller does not seem far-fetched. There are very few shows which have been successful in dethroning Squid Game from its royal seat. So, if you take a bird’s eye view of the situation, then not only a third season but many more of Squid Game is what we expect. What do you think?
With that said, stay tuned to Web News Observer for more details regarding Squid Game season 2!