‘Squid Game’ Spinoffs? Creator of Netflix Hit Has Multiple Ideas

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[This story contains major spoilers from the Squid Game season two finale.]

Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk originally designed “Squid Game” as a three-part series for Netflix, but he has plans to expand the universe of this worldwide phenomenon by transforming it into a franchise.

During the filming of season one, I expressed that there wouldn’t be another season. However, if the right opportunity arises and I can develop a fresh character or storyline, then it’s possible that we might see a return. But for now, I’m leaning more towards the idea of a spinoff.

[Source: The Hollywood Reporter]

One intriguing concept that surfaced among Hwang’s numerous suggestions for a spinoff series is the idea of delving into untold stories: expanding on the histories of various characters, and/or bridging the time gap between seasons one and two for characters like Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) and Recruiter (Gong Yoo), the latter who met an early demise in season two.

One thought I’ve been pondering is about the events that transpired between season one and two, given there was a three-year time jump. For instance, what activities were the Front Man engaged in during those three years? What about the Recruiter? When I find myself with some spare moments, I enjoy brainstorming ideas and letting my imagination run wild. Therefore, we should keep an open mind about possibilities.

Hwang emphasized that he remains dedicated to wrapping up the three-part narrative for his character, Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, who returned to the Squid Games in season two with the aim of ending them once and for all. After making its debut in 2021 and breaking Netflix’s record as their most-watched title ever, the much-anticipated second season premiered on December 26th, quickly smashing viewership records by garnering an impressive 68 million views within its first four days. The third and final season is scheduled for release in 2025; however, a specific premiere date has yet to be revealed.

Following the phenomenal worldwide success of Squid Game season one, which even led to the Netflix reality show Squid Game: The Challenge, I found myself pondering a way to continue the story. My idea was that Gi-hun would be drawn back into the games, this time with the intention of dismantling them completely. It’s his deep-rooted desire to put an end to these deadly contests that sets the stage for season two.

In the second season’s finale, Gi-hun’s uprising against the guards during the Games was foiled by the Front Man, who had been secretly manipulating events from behind the scenes as a supposed friend to Gi-hun, named Young-il. The story concludes with an emotionally charged scene where the Front Man kills Park Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan), a close friend of Gi-hun’s, right in front of him, and issues a stern warning about the potential repercussions of future rebellion.

In a prior interview with THR, Hwang revealed that the third season will delve deeper into the conflict between Gi-hun and Front Man, who, interestingly, is a previous victor of the game. The future of the remaining survivors and the Games themselves remains uncertain. However, a post-credits scene after the end of season two hinted at another round of Red Light-Green Light, suggesting that the Games will persist. Netflix subsequently shared a more detailed teaser on their social media platforms, disclosing that the new game doll’s name is Chul-su.

In an interview with THR following the launch of the second season, Hwang mentioned that the third season will delve deeply into Gi-hun’s feelings of loss, failure, and guilt, which seem to burden him immensely. He also raised the question of how Gi-hun will continue his journey given this heavy load.

He considers the third season as wrapping up the tale of this series… since he feels he’s provided resolution to the narrative about society through the character of Seong Gi-hun. If there were ever plans to revisit the world of Squid Game, it would involve new characters and a fresh plotline. Perhaps exploring the backgrounds of the guards in masks, or delving into their personal lives during off hours – something like that could be an intriguing angle.

In the meantime, it’s clear that Gi-hun’s destiny has been set. Hwang wrote seasons two and three consecutively, and they were also filmed one after the other. If you’re curious about how Gi-hun’s game might conclude, here’s a sneak peek of what Hwang revealed about upcoming events.

He shared with THR that he decided to wrap up season two because all of Gi-hun’s efforts had ended in failure. The cost he paid was losing his dearest and longest friend at the hands of the Front Man, and he wanted to finish season two right there – at a point where Gi-hun is overwhelmed with guilt and defeat. He wanted to explore where this emotional state would lead Gi-hun next.

In the third season, the Front Man’s fate seems intriguing. As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but wonder: could there be a chance for redemption? And according to Hwang, there certainly appears to be an answer to this question.

Squid Game season two is now streaming on Netflix.

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2025-01-05 19:25