Get ready to dive back into the biggest reality competition as the world of “Squid Game: The Challenge,” based on Squid Game, is expanding! The series has officially been renewed for a second season by Netflix, and much to everyone’s anticipation, it will be returning with yet another large cash prize in reality TV history.
On December 6, 2023, before the release of the season one finale, “One Lucky Day,” Netflix officially announced a second season order for the reality competition. The renewal does not come as a major surprise as the series, since its release, has been topping the global streaming charts. The show was No. 1 on Netflix’s list of Top 10 English-language shows for the first two weeks after its release. It had 20.5 million views in its first week and 11.4 million in its second, with a total of over 170 million hours watched within that fortnight.
As for the week of Nov. 27 to Dec. 3, 2023, the series stayed at number one globally into the second week for Netflix’s TV (English) category, with 11,400,000 views and a total of 85 million hours viewed. It reached number one in 74 countries in the same week, including the US and UK – and was Top 10 in 19 other countries. It has also been in the Top 10 on TV in 91 different countries. Additionally, the reality competition also boosted the original drama series Squid Game to number seven on the Non-English TV list with 1.5 million views that week.
The series stayed at number one globally on Netflix into a second week (November 27 – December 3, 2023), with 11.4 million views and 85 million hours watched. It was Top 10 on TV in 91 different countries that week. The reality competition series also boosted the original drama series Squid Game to number seven on the Non-English TV list with 1.5 million views that week. The first season for Netflix’s TV (non-English) chart has been on the top 10 list 22 times, with 1.5 million viewers and a total of 12.7 million hours viewed.
“There was no red light in our decision to greenlight season two of Squid Game: The Challenge, the most ambitious unscripted show we’ve premiered at Netflix,” said Brandon Riegg, Netflix VP of Nonfiction Series. Further adding, “We’re so excited to continue the franchise of Squid Game with our team in Korea, and producers at Studio Lambert and The Garden for this epic competition series.”
Take a look at the official renewal announcement as shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) as the casting for the second season has also begun with the link attached to the post, quote: “Attention players, are you ready for the next game? Squid Game: The Challenge is returning for a Season 2!” For all those who are interested in stepping into the dormitory, recruitment for Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 is open now at SquidGameCasting.com.
Attention players, are you ready for the next game? Squid Game: The Challenge is returning for a Season 2! Join the reality competition on https://t.co/rHt0nq0WtI. pic.twitter.com/QOtRDpdtD8
— Netflix (@netflix) December 6, 2023
About Squid Game: The Challenge
The variety of games seen in the series included Red Light, Green Light, which saw over 250 contestants eliminated, the Dalgona Candy Game, Battleship, Marbles, and the Glass Bridge, as well as several interstitial challenges and the official logline of Squid Game: The Challenge reads as follows:
“456 real players will enter the competition show in pursuit of a life-changing reward of USD 4.56 million. As they compete through a series of games inspired by the original show – plus surprising new additions – their strategies, alliances, and character will be put to the test while competitors are eliminated around them.”
The 10-episode first season of the competition series is a co-production between Studio Lambert (The Circle) and The Garden (24 Hours in A&E), part of ITV Studios. Executive Producers: Nicola Brown (The Garden), Tim Harcourt (Studio Lambert), John Hay (The Garden), Toni Ireland (Studio Lambert), Anna Kidd, Stephen Lambert (Studio Lambert), Louise Peet, Nia Yemoh (Studio Lambert), Stephen Yemoh (Studio Lambert).
The first season’s finale aired on Netflix on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
*Spoiler Alert*
Among the three finalists, Sam Wells (Player 016), Mai Whelan (Player 287), and Phill Cain (Player 451) were the last competitors standing for the final episode, which was streamed on Netflix earlier. The winner was 55-year-old Mai, who was born in Vietnam before moving to the US, where she spent two decades in the Navy, changing jobs to work as an immigration adjudicator before retiring. Ahead of her victory, she had mentioned how important meditation had been to overcoming the obstacles before her win.
“That’s all we have,” she said. “You need to make connections and friendships but at the same time you need time to yourself to reflect and ground.”
