Squid Game Season 3: Shocking Details and Release Date Revealed!

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Let the final games begin.

Following two exciting seasons delving into the life of Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, in the dystopian universe of “Squid Game“, Netflix’s highly acclaimed show is now gearing up for its concluding chapter.

The upcoming third season will wrap up the storyline of Hwang Dong-hyuk’s primary character, yet it does not imply that the universe of Squid Game will cease to exist or shut its doors forever.

With a confirmed release date for season three, The Hollywood Reporter has gathered all the latest updates, such as insights gleaned from initial images and speculations about Squid Game’s possible direction moving forward.

This story will be updated as new information is revealed.

    When Is Season 3 Releasing?

    Fans eagerly await the arrival of the much-anticipated third season! This gripping Korean series is set to make its comeback on June 27th. All episodes will simultaneously become available on Netflix, although the exact number of episodes hasn’t been confirmed yet (though reports suggest six).

    The Squid Game television show on Netflix holds the title as their most-watched series to date. In its second season, it surpassed its own viewership records from the first season by a landslide. This unprecedented success was further highlighted during its premiere week when it achieved a global record for the highest single-week viewing total with an astounding 4.92 billion minutes watched.

    Where Did Season 2 Leave Off?

    In the final episode of season one, Gi-hun faced a crucial decision after securing victory and amassing 45.6 billion won ($31.5 million). Rather than leaving to begin a fresh life, Player 456 pledged retribution against the elusive Front Man, the creator of the lethal games modeled on traditional Korean children’s pastimes, in which the participants were heavily disadvantaged.

    In the initial part of season two, Gi-hun is seen trying to find a way back into the game with the aim of dismantling the system backed by billionaires from within. Once he manages to reenter the games, he faces numerous challenges but eventually fails in his coup attempt when his new partner, Player 001 Young-il, who turns out to be Front Man, informs the audience (not Gi-hun yet) about this fact. The season ends with a chilling scene where Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) assassinates Gi-hun’s friend, Player 290 Park Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan), and issues a threat to Gi-hun regarding the possible repercussions of his rebellion.

    In season two, following each round, the players were given the option to decide if they wanted to keep playing. If a tie occurred, they had a night to ponder their decision before voting again the next day. This pause is when the rebellion started, resulting in numerous players being eliminated in a struggle between those wanting to halt the game (represented by ‘X’ symbols) and those wishing to carry on (symbolized by ‘O’). Notable among the casualties was Player 230, Thanos (played by Choi Su-bong).

    In the finale of season two, the games were left unfinished, leading to a dramatic twist where Gi-hun and his associates found themselves back in captivity.

    What Do the Season 3 Photos Tease?

    The mid-credits scene after the season two finale hinted at a fresh round of Red Light-Green Light games with the introduction of a new game doll called Chul-su. Netflix later shared an extended sneak peek (on their social media platforms) of this intriguing moment, giving us a glimpse of the doll’s name.

    Upon announcing the release date for season three, Netflix shared fresh key art and photos, some of which are featured in this compilation. These pictures depict characters like Gi-hun under restraint in bed, the enigmatic Front Man with and without his mask, as well as other “X” players discovering a casket. However, it’s Chul-su who dominates the visual landscape.

    In the fresh artwork for this season, a guard dressed in pink is depicted dragging a wounded competitor towards one of the series’ iconic coffins adorned with a ribbon of pink. Unlike the colorful track from the six-legged pentathlon in season two, the floor pattern now consists of twisted flowers soaked in blood, which Netflix describes as ominously hinting at the ruthless final outcome of the games.

    The mysterious shapes of Young-hee, the initial doll, alongside her recent counterpart Chul-su, can be noticed in the darkness, hinting that the revamped version of the Red Light-Green Light game for season three might turn out to be the harshest one so far.

    What Else Do We Know About Season 3?

    Creator Hwang originally designed Squid Game as a narrative spanning over three seasons. Interestingly, the outcome for the character Gi-hun was predetermined; in fact, Hwang penned seasons two and three concurrently, and they were shot simultaneously.

    Hwang shared with THR his decision to wrap up season two following all of Gi-hun’s unsuccessful attempts. He felt it was fitting for the second season to end when Gi-hun lost his dearest and longest friend at the hands of the Front Man. This tragic event, Hwang explained, would provide a starting point for the next season, where Gi-hun is overwhelmed with guilt and defeat. Hwang wanted to explore how these emotions would influence Gi-hun’s journey in the subsequent season.

    According to Hwang’s earlier interview with THR, the third season will further explore the conflict between Gi-hun and the Front Man, who has also been a past winner of the game. If there is any chance of redemption for the Front Man, Hwang hinted that season three provides an answer to this question.

    In the upcoming third season, the narrative will delve deeply into Gi-hun’s feelings of loss and failure, as well as the immense burden of guilt he carries. The question remains, how will he maneuver through the storyline with such a heavy load on his shoulders? This is according to Hwang’s statement.

    Apart from his other points, he additionally shared his perspective on why season three marks the culmination of Gi-hun’s narrative. “In my opinion, I feel that I have reached a conclusion with the story I aimed to convey about society through the character of Seong Gi-hun. If there was ever a chance for me to revisit the world of Squid Game, it would involve new characters and a distinct plotline. For instance, exploring the backstory of the masked guards – how they came to be here, their leisure activities, etc. Something along those lines might be considered.

    Which brings us to…

    Spinoffs!

    The story of Gi-hun may come to an end, but the mastermind behind Netflix’s internationally acclaimed series is brainstorming ways to expand it into a franchise, potentially carrying the narrative forward.

    During season one, I had mentioned that there wouldn’t be another season,” Hwang said when starting season two. “However, if circumstances change and I can develop a new character or narrative, then there could potentially be a return. But my thoughts are more inclined towards a spin-off.

    One concept that surfaced among his numerous suggestions for a spinoff series is the idea of delving into untold stories: specifically, providing insights into the pasts of secondary characters or revisiting the time period between seasons one and two for our returning characters, Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) and Recruiter (Gong Yoo), the latter who met an early demise in season two.

    Hwang asked, “There’s a three-year time frame. Can you tell me what the Front Man was doing during those years? And the same question goes for the Recruiter.” Hwang added, “In my spare time, I enjoy brainstorming and letting my imagination run free. So, we should keep an open mind about possible answers.

    Following the phenomenal worldwide success of Squid Game’s first season, which led to the creation of Netflix’s reality series Squid Game: The Challenge, Hwang decided to further develop the concept he had in mind. He wanted the narrative to revolve around Gi-hun, who would reject his post-season one life and re-enter the games in an attempt to halt the entire game system. This desire for Gi-hun to stop the games is what propelled the events of season two.

    Hopefully, it will continue to drive Gi-hun through the finish line.

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2025-01-31 00:32