As a supporter of fairness and justice in the entertainment industry, I wholeheartedly empathize with Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of Squid Game. His story is a stark reminder that even when a project becomes an international phenomenon, the creators may not reap the financial benefits they deserve. It’s ironic, isn’t it? A show about people fighting against oppressive systems and greedy game masters, yet the creator himself is struggling with the very same issues.
In contrast to many creators who later confess they were only involved for financial reasons after a movie or series release, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk openly admitted that he had to return for the second season due to a money dispute with Netflix. The South Korean series’ first season was an unprecedented success on Netflix, climbing to the top of their charts and remaining there for multiple weeks. The show even inspired an American reality TV adaptation, an upcoming American remake by David Fincher, and reportedly brought in around $900 million for Netflix. However, Hwang didn’t receive a fair payment for his work.
The disagreement between Hwang Dong-hyuk and Netflix over post-production royalties has lingered for quite some time. Although the show brought in a substantial sum of money for Netflix, Hwang Don-hyuk expressed that he didn’t receive any recurring payments from the series, but instead was given a small initial payment to produce it. In an interview with BBC before the debut of Season 2 of Squid Game, the creator disclosed that financial concerns were his primary reason for coming back to work on the series. He stated:
Although the initial series garnered immense worldwide acclaim, it’s important to note that my earnings from it weren’t substantial. Therefore, working on the subsequent series will not only be enjoyable but also provide a means to balance out the success of the first one financially.
Towards the end of his response, it seemed as though Hwang Dong-hyuk’s company-imposed PR lessons took effect, as he added casually, “I didn’t entirely conclude the story.” Understandably, creating Season 2 was quite a stressful ordeal for Hwang, with whispers suggesting that he actually lost eight to nine teeth due to tension during filming. However, in a recent interview, he clarified, “He actually lost around eight or nine teeth.
Squid Game Season 2 Is an “Us vs. Them” Story
In simple terms, Season 1 of “Squid Game” revolutionized the concept of extreme survival games on television, reminiscent of “Takeshi’s Castle”. It creatively reimagined the ‘Eat the Rich’ theme, a narrative style popular in Hollywood. For Season 2, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk plans to delve deeper into his grim perspective on society, introducing unexpected twists and innovations to the game show format.
As a spectator, I can’t help but notice the clear divisions arising. We seem to be in a time where it’s us against them, a battle of right versus wrong. After each match, we retire to our shared dormitory, now divided into two distinct halves. The question then falls upon us, should we continue this game or call it quits and exit the stage? The side with the lesser support will unfortunately face elimination.
In the upcoming season, it’s confirmed that Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) will reappear in the games following his victory in the last season. As per Hwang, Gi-hun is back with a purpose: to rescue fellow players and put an end to the Squid Game for good. Joining him are Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo. Mark your calendars! Squid Game Season 2 is set to premiere on Netflix on December 26, 2024.
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2024-11-11 20:01