Squid Game was such a massive hit that it still holds the all-time viewership record for Netflix — over a year after its release! Thankfully, Season 2 is on its way.
The news was confirmed by Netflix back in June, along with a message from series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk.
Hwang Dong-Hyuk writer, director, producer, and creator of @squidgame has a message for the fans:
Here's what we know so far:
1. Season 2 will begin filming in 2023, which means it won't be on Netflix for a looooong time still. The absolute earliest will be 2024.
2. Hwang wrote and directed every episode of the first season, which took a lot out of him. He won't be doing that again for Season 2.
3. Four original cast members are returning for Season 2: Lee Jung-jae (Seong Gi-hun), Lee Byung-Hun (The Front Man/Hwang In-ho), Wi Ha-jun (Hwang Jun-ho), and Gong Yoo (The Salesman).
4. Four new casts members were announced for the new season during Netflix's TUDUM event held in June 2023: Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon, and Yang Dong Geun.
Here's the cast announcement from TUDUM:
View this video on YouTube
5. And eight more cast members were added at the end of June!
6. With that said, we don't know how the production will be affected by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes...if it's affected at all.
It's possible that since Squid Game is a South Korean production, work can continue on the season without breaking any strike rules. However, the SAG-AFTRA strike included voiceover work, which means that the show's English dub couldn't be recorded until the strike ended.
Incidentally, Hwang Dong-hyuk didn't receive any money beyond his original contract with Netflix, even though the show's massive success helped the streamer make $900 million.
7. However long we have to wait for Season 2, you can kill time watching Squid Game: The Challenge, which premiered on Netflix on Nov. 22.
8. Part of the plot of Season 2 will follow Gi-hun seeking revenge for what he went through in the game, and could reveal a darker side to the character.
9. The ending of Season 1 was meant to wrap up the whole story, but there are a few threads that Hwang might explore in Season 2.
10. Regardless of what his storyline may be, the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) will probably have a bigger role this time around.
11. Executive producer Kim Ji-yeon told Tudum that the creative team plans to make the show "even more joyful to the global audience."
12. The production budget will be higher, which means the games will look ~even cooler~ in Season 2.
13. Hwang Dong-hyuk is already thinking about Season 3, and even has some thoughts about who might be a third season guest star.
14. Young-hee's "boyfriend," Cheol-su, will be introduced in Season 2.
15. Hwang has also said that he'd like to bring back some of the characters, including Ji-yeong (Emmy winner Lee Yoo-mi), and said he regrets killing off so many characters before knowing there would be a second season.
