Squid Game spoilers follow.
Towards the later half of 2021, you had to be hiding under a rock to miss out on the absolute phenomenon that was Netflix's Korean series, Squid Game.
The to-the-death battle of wits captured the imagination of the entire world – and finally brought to some people's attention the stream of amazing Korean content that's available to subscribers worldwide.
As unbelievably popular as the show has become, it's hard to believe that we nearly missed out on Squid Game altogether. In an interview with Vanity Fair, its creator Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed that the premise was initially rejected.
In 2009, the show's creator attempted to pitch it as a feature film, but was knocked back.
"People were telling me that it's too unrealistic," Hwang said. The project was labelled absurd: a film about debt and poverty leading people to make drastically life-threatening choices during a time when the real world was experiencing a global financial crisis does seem very close to home.
Hwang put the script away and concentrated on other projects, including directing the acclaimed The Crucible, Miss Granny and The Fortress.
Thankfully, he didn't give up on Squid Game and revisited the script in 2018. "It was a very strange experience," he explained, "because what seemed so unrealistic at the time didn't feel as unrealistic any more."
Few shows have had the massive cultural impact of Squid Game, with creepy giant 'Red Light, Green Light' dolls popping up all over the world, and even numerous recreations of the games being played by superfans (without the added side of death).
The distinctive pink guard uniforms and green competitor tracksuits became so popular around Halloween in 2021 that New York's schools officially banned them.
Park Hae-soo (Cho Sang-woo, Player 218) is proud of his work on the show, and the impact it had on pop culture (via EW), saying: "The fact that we created a uniquely Korean story, with a very Korean subject matter, with all Korean creators – the crew, the staff, and the wonderful cast.
"The fact that something we prepared for a long time and showcased to the world in the Korean language and filled with Korean culture, the fact that this was loved by so many around the world and so many people related to it, that was something I'm really proud of."
So, will we find out what's happening next to Gi-hun following his experiences within the games? Here's everything you need to know.
Squid Game season 2 potential release date: When will it air?
"On your marks. Set. Greenlight." Get your green trackies ready, because Squid Game has officially been given the go-ahead for a second season – unsurprising, given its popularity and viewing success.
And Hwang Dong-hyuk is ready to go with a season-two outline. "I have a treatment of a whole season-two episode with new games and new characters," he told E! Online. "I like it. I think it's good. It's better than what I expected."
The good news – announced by Netflix via Twitter on June 12, 2022 – was accompanied by a teaser video. Fans just about lost their minds demanding the return of some of their favourites, despite their bloody demises.
"Won't be tuning in unless [Kang Sae-byeok] rises from the dead," said one fan. Pretty hard to survive a slashed throat, but we're here for the passion.
More realistic speculation over who may return was also rife, with some predicting Wi Ha-joon may return as detective Hwang Jun-ho. We know, we know, he 'died', but as one Twitter user pointed out, we didn't actually see a body.
Hwang Dong-hyuk was kind enough to confirm the return of two season one alums. Our favourite gambler turned survivor Seong Gi-Hun (Lee Jung-jae) will be back for more games and blood. Remember that when last we saw him, he had fallen for the bait and signed himself up for a second round of the squid games!
Lee Byung-hun will reprise his role as Hwang In-ho, aka 'The Front Man'. We doubt he will be carrying much remorse over killing (or "killing") his brother Hwang Jun-ho. He seems like a pretty cold and heartless person, but will he face retribution? Can't wait to find out.
Of his Squid Game journey, Hwang Dong-hyuk said: "It took 12 years to bring the first season of Squid Game to life last year but it took 12 days for Squid Game to become the most popular Netflix series ever.
"As the writer, director and producer of Squid Game, a huge shout out to the fans around the world. Thank you for watching and loving our show."
Currently there is no official release date for Squid Game season two – but it is at least on the way.
However we wouldn't advise you to get too excited. During the same interview with Vanity Fair, Hwang Dong-hyuk opened up about the second season's progress, estimating that the second instalment of the bloody suspense thriller will hit the streaming services no earlier than the end of 2023, or more likely 2024.
As of May 2022, Hwang disclosed that he only had about three pages' worth of ideas that he will magic up into a script, but has confirmed there will be more games ahead, teasing: "Humanity is going to be put to a test through those games once again."
By July 2022, Hwang revealed that he had "a set outline" for season two all worked out. When asked if the second season would contain some of the same thematic preoccupations, he told E!: "I want to ask the question, 'Is true solidarity between humans possible?'"
It looks like there could even be a third season of Squid Game being planned already as well. In December 2021, Hwang told Korean broadcaster KBS (via Korea Times): "I'm in talks with Netflix over season two as well as season three. We will come to a conclusion any time soon."
However, don't expect an official release date any time soon.
"It took me six months to write and rewrite the first two episodes," Hwang told Variety. "Then I consulted verbally with friends, and picked up clues for improvements through my own pitching and from their responses."
Squid Game season 2 cast: Who's in it?
Considering the nature of the Squid Game itself, don't expect too many familiar faces in the upcoming season two. Out of the first season's 456 competitors, all of them but one died.
But the one person we know we can count on to come back is Seong Gi-hun who, after making it out of the game alive, found himself tempted back in after seeing someone else recruited for the mega-millions life/death game.
Alongside Lee, the rest of the cast is basically up for debate, with pretty much everyone having met their maker.
The announcement of its second season did confirm the The Front Man will be back, while also teasing the return of the man in the suit with the ddjaki. It also hinted the introduction of Young-hee's boyfriend Cheol-su may be possible, but made no confirmation.
Previous players – including actors Park Hae-soo, Oh Yeong-su and Hoyeon – could potentially make a comeback, but perhaps only in flashbacks as Gi-hun takes on the games once again, remembering his fallen friends.
"So many characters died, especially beloved ones died. I'm sorry I killed them so easily; I didn't know this was coming," Hwang previously told Reuters, adding how he wants to "revive Ji-young, but her best friend Sae-byeok also died" so he's "thinking what to do."
And speaking to Deadline about whether fan favourite characters could return, even if they died in the first season, Hwang said: "I'll try something to bring them back to season two.
Pointing to Hoyeon, he added: "Let's say maybe she has a twin sister, you'll see."
One other important name that fans would be keen to see return is Gong Yoo, the Korean icon who's most recognisable to international audiences as the star of Train To Busan.
Not only was Gong's high-profile cameo a highlight for fans, but it also sets up the possibility of a return for his character. After all, he must surely be out there somewhere, still recruiting new participants to die in the game, so it wouldn't be hard to bring Gong's character back in season two (hopefully with more scenes this time around).
Marvel star Tony Leung Chiu-wai has set the rumour mill churning by appearing in a photograph with Squid Game director Hwang – as well as teasing fans with some show-specific captions.
During his time at the 27th Busan International Film Festival, Leung also commented on how he may like to do Korean dramas (via Korea Herald).
Elsewhere, let's just hope any returning VIPs do a better job this time though. Back when season one dropped, many fans criticised the Western cast's acting while playing the evil, decadent men who watch these games unfold from behind the scenes.
John D Michaels, the actor who plays VIP One, defended his work in an interview with The Guardian where he discussed why English-language scenes might come across as unnatural in Korean shows.
"I think the first thing to dispel is this myth that they just pick us up off the street," he said. "It's different for every show, but non-Korean performers often act with dialogue that is translated by a non-native – sometimes even by Google Translate – so it can sound unnatural.
"And often we don't have the scripts for the rest of the show. We are only given our scenes, so we have no idea of the tone. If I was editing a Russian actor speaking Russian, I wouldn't have any idea if he was saying his lines correctly or if his intonation was natural.
"There might be two takes," he continues. "One of them could be perfect, the other wooden. If I'm editing it, the wooden one might move faster or cut more smoothly or the continuity might be better, so I'd just go with that."
Squid Game season 2 plot: What will happen?
At the end of Squid Game's first season, Gi-hun has managed to beat the game against all odds. But the game's not over yet. Following the death of the Squid Game's creator, Gi-hun discovers that the competition is still going with new recruits.
Given all this, it would be easy to continue the story with Gi-hun centre stage again, doing all he can to stop the game, just as he vows to do in those last moments. And it looks like that's the route season two is going down.
"I have no idea what will happen or the scale of it, but the only thing [director Hwang] did tell me was that Seong Gi-hun is going to be in the show again, and he's going to be playing in the arena again," actor Lee Jung-jae told People.
However, it's hard to imagine how Gi-hun could possibly defeat the game's creators, even with his newfound wealth.
One complication is the impossibility of his ever sneaking into anywhere undetected with that mop of flame-red hair. Gi-hun dyed his naturally black hair bright red in the final episode for unspecified reasons.
While you might think it's not that important, Hwang Dong-hyuk disagrees: "[It] represents that he will never be able to go back to his old self. It is also a sign of his rage," he told Radio Times.
However, in his aforementioned chat with The AP, Hwang Dong-hyuk has now confirmed that "Gi-Hun will come back, and he will do something for the world".
He later compared it to a conflict worthy of Star Wars, and said: "I would think that in the second season, what he has learned from the games and his experience in the first season, they will all be put to use in a more active manner.
"And at the same time, as for the Front Man who was also a past winner but became a Front Man, it's like Darth Vader. Some end up Jedi and some become Darth Vader, right?"
"I'm not really in the right place to be discussing season two in an official setting, but if there were to be a season two, in the first season that we saw Gi-hun is a character whose humanity is shown through or exposed in certain situations," Hwang was also quoted as saying during a virtual SAG panel.
"In other words, his humanity is shown through a very passive manner. But I would think that in the second season, what he has learned from the games and his experience in the first season, they will all be put to use in a more active manner."
Talking to Entertainment Weekly, he also revealed that there was an alternate version of the first season cliffhanger ending that wasn't used – one that could have definitively ended Gi-Hun's story right there.
"We actually wrestled with two different scenarios for the ending," he said. "There was one, the other alternate ending, where Gi-Hun would get on the plane and leave. And then there was of course the one where he would turn back and walk towards the camera.
"We constantly asked ourselves, is it really right for Gi-hun to make the decision to leave and go see his family, to pursue his own happiness? Is that the right way for us to really propose the question or the message that we wanted to convey through the series?"
The ending that was used does leave the door wide open for Gi-Hun to return for a second season, but if Hwang ends up changing his mind on that front, there's still plenty of other ways for Squid Game to continue in season two without him.
Den of Geek notes that these Squid Games aren't just based in Korea, so given the international scope of this project, it's entirely possible that a second season could take place somewhere else entirely. However, the problem with that is this show is a Korean production, which would make it hard to suddenly up sticks and move everything to a new country.
"I wanted to write a story that was an allegory or fable about modern capitalist society, something that depicts an extreme competition, somewhat like the extreme competition of life. But I wanted it to use the kind of characters we've all met in real life," Hwang told Variety.
He expanded on this in an interview with The Times, saying: "We're just all focused on winning. I wanted to take a break and think about who makes the system, and what we're moving towards."
Given that capitalism is kind of a big topic, you'd think there would be more for Hwang to explore.
Actor Wi Ha-Jun, who plays officer Hwang Jun-ho, told Deadline: "I'm dying to know what happened to him. I want him to return alive, find his brother and ask him tons of questions. As a brother, I would ask him sincerely as a detective, I want to explore the overall secrets behind the game as well.
"I really hope to see Jun-ho come back alive and explore all these questions, I hope to see a more brotherly-love side of their relationship as well."
The police character was a great means of opening up the "back end" of the games to the audience, so hopefully Hwang Dong-hyuk will find a way to keep the other Hwang alive and investigate the origin of the games – or at least his brother's part in it.
Not least the big plot hole that the Front Man's involvement seemed to generate: if his brother was a former winner of the Squid Game tournament, how did no-one in his family notice that he'd suddenly become very rich?
And why did Jun-ho find his disappearance mysterious this time around if he didn't a few years back, when his brother was busy winning the games?
Of course the pressure will be on the cast to deliver a second season that thrills as much as the first. Let's hope they deal with it a little better than they initially did the runaway success of the show.
Hoyeon (Kang Sae-byeok) told The Hollywood Reporter: "I couldn't follow the speed of the growth of the Squid Game success because since COVID, I think everything is faster and even online, it happens just so quick. It was hard to follow.
"I lost six pounds in a week when it became successful. I couldn't eat – it wasn't stress, I just didn't know this feeling. 'What's going on out there, who am I?' I was kind of losing myself.
"Now, I feel very comfortable with the Squid Game team, so I can slowly get used to this success with people. But when I was at home by myself watching this growth, I was like, 'What?'"
Lee Jung-jae (Seong Gi-hun) concurred. "I agree with Ho-yeon, I don't know how to deal with this. I don't know what this is. Even though I have [more acting] experience.
"Even in Korea, it was very popular and the show was getting a lot of responses from people that they really enjoyed it. It was very successful in Korea."
At least Lee Jung-jae was happy about how season one ended (via Newsweek).
"I was so glad that Gi-hun changed his mind after running into another victim playing 'ddakji' [the Korean children's game played by the contestants when they were first recruited by the Salesman] at a train station and became determined to prevent further damage to more victims."
And the ending points to a clear direction for season two. "If Gi-hun can do something for the world, I'll be very proud of him indeed," Jung-jae said.
This cryptic tease is actually pretty exciting – and points to a clear season two arc for the character. Let's hope we're all very proud of him when the final credits start scrolling (though don't expect it to be neatly wrapped up – we can't imagine that even Netflix would want one of its biggest hits to end on the second season).
Squid Game season 2 trailer: When can I watch it?
Unfortunately, as far as we're aware, filming hasn't even commenced yet on the new season, so a release date is a long way off. As a result, there's no trailer either.
However, as Squid Game has put us off gambling for life, we're not willing to bet money on when new footage will arrive just yet.
Do keep checking in, though – and we'll let you know as soon as we know more.
Squid Game is now available to watch on Netflix.
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