Behind-The-Scenes Moments That Make Us Love Squid Game Even More

When you think of ‘Squid Game‘, ‘lovable’ isn’t the first word that comes to mind. However, behind-the-scenes footage reveals a lively and enjoyable atmosphere on set, despite the intense effort required. Despite one game in Season 2 making several actors ill, there was still plenty of camaraderie, positive energy, and individual acting triumphs among the cast. Since they’re essentially adults playing children’s games for a living, it makes sense that they find joy between takes, even though they have to pretend these games are deadly serious.

Filled with endearing moments, these behind-the-scenes glimpses foster affection for the actors and creators who dedicated their efforts to producing the challenging yet captivatingly eerie thriller, “Squid Game.” This collection includes instances where actors’ modesty about their talents were proven false and surprising production hurdles that were successfully navigated. Here you’ll find an assortment of anecdotes and behind-the-scenes clips from the filming process of “Squid Game.

Lee Byung-hun worked hard to make the Front Man’s moves look flawless

For two seasons, Lee Byung-hun has been subtly showcasing his intense demeanor in the role of the affable Front Man, but certain scenes in Season 2 of “Squid Game” made him doubt whether he could meet the challenge.

In a previously recorded conversation with the broadcaster, Byung-hun revealed he is right-handed. Interestingly, The Front Man character uses his left hand, so the actor had to toss objects using his less dominant side, such as in the spinning top game. Byung-hun fretted that he might keep missing the ideal moment to make the top tip over, potentially extending the blooper reel for Season 2 and making things more challenging for himself.

In the video, his modest demeanor is quite charming, especially as he effortlessly nailed every take without much struggle. Interestingly, it was planned for the Lead Actor to falter during this task on a Netflix Korean series. However, Byung-hun, whether right or left-handed, consistently executed the throw flawlessly. As Leo Seo-hwan (Jung-bae) remarked, “Even when he threw it backward, it would still spin perfectly.” This demonstrates that even the most prominent celebrities might worry about trying something new but ultimately succeed in their endeavors.

The Jegi challenge brought on joy

In Season 2, Episode 4, titled “Six Legs,” one of the intense segments is the pentathlon challenge which includes a game called The Jegi Challenge, resembling hackey-sack where participants keep a pom-pom aloft using only their feet for five rounds. This takes place over a span of five minutes and involves six people. Interestingly, as suggested by a Netflix video, during filming, everyone on set – actors, extras, and even crew members – would casually kick the pom-pom around, creating an enjoyable atmosphere behind the scenes, unlike their on-screen characters.

It appears that the particular challenge posed a difficulty for director, writer, and series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, as he found it challenging to determine an appropriate length of time for the challenge initially set at 10 minutes. Since the actors finished the challenge swiftly, he adjusted the time limit to five minutes because that was the duration most often required by participants to complete the task successfully. The end result – those heartwarming smiles on everyone’s faces – made it all worthwhile.

Friendships were formed while waiting on the set

Although “Squid Game” doesn’t offer friendship within its fictional world, the show’s production set has become a real-life platform for its cast to form friendships with their co-stars. During breaks between scenes while filming a TV series, actors often engage in conversation as a means to pass the long, seemingly endless minutes before their next take. Numerous behind-the-scenes clips show the cast chatting, laughing, and exchanging warm smiles.

It appears that during their time collaborating on Netflix’s K-Content, Lee Yoo-mi and Jung Ho-yeon developed a strong friendship. As they revealed, being around the same age and having similar passions helped them connect well. During filming, they often empathized with their characters Ji-yeong and Sae-byeok, which brought them even closer. Jung admitted to feeling uncertain about her acting abilities but found inspiration in Lee.

The duo also shared that they both genuinely cried during the scene where Ji-yeong sacrifices herself for Sae-byeok in the marble game, as their close bond transcended the boundaries of their roles. This heartwarming story certainly tugs at the heartstrings.

The games were fun (and hard work) for the cast

Without a shadow of a doubt, crafting both seasons of “Squid Game” wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. In Season 2, there was one particular scene that left quite a few actors gasping for breath – the six-legged race, with its gravel and dust causing respiratory issues for several of us. As for Season 1, the tug of war was the real challenge we had to tackle. But despite these tough times, I can honestly say that the vibe on set was electric, and just being part of this unique production was a massive adrenaline rush.

During the filming of Season 1, there was an abundance of footage released by Netflix showing them laughing and socializing with each other during breaks. As Heo Sung-tae shared with Netflix K-Content, everyone seemed eager to be on set, even those who didn’t have scenes to shoot. “I went, too,” he added. Other actors admitted that they frequently discussed the plot and games among themselves. In a heartfelt moment, Anupam Tripathi confessed, “We talked about so many things. It felt like we were more than just colleagues; we were a family.

Kang Ha-Ne worked hard to learn gong-gi — but was still replaced

In an outstanding scene from Season 2, Kang Dae-ho (portrayed by Kang Ha-neul), engages in a swift game of gong-gi. His hands dance with astonishing speed, leaving the audience in awe. However, there’s a hidden truth behind this fast-paced sequence, and his endearing response to the whole situation adds an adorable touch to the making-of process.

In the series, Dae-ho claims he became proficient because his sister showed him the ropes. On the other hand, Ha-Neul faced a tougher journey on set. He worked tirelessly, picking up new strategies along the way. He was beginning to grasp it, but then a professional player was called in by the director. Ha-Neul shared this with Netflix. Although Ha-Neul held confidence in his gaming abilities, the producers of “Squid Game 2” still decided to bring in an expert to play gong-gi for that episode. However, Ha-Neul expressed appreciation for his replacement’s skill and swiftness. The tenacity displayed by the actors in the show leaves us eagerly anticipating more from them, even if it required bringing in a seasoned player to make their moves seem flawless.

Jo Yu-ri’s expression amused her castmates

Jo Yu-ri, portrayed by Kim Jun-hee, exhibits a large response upon successfully executing a toss in the ddakji game during “Six Legs.” This is because she had been struggling to achieve that shot while filming the scene, despite being able to do it during practice sessions. The amusing moment comes from her exaggerated reaction, which seems out of character for the situation, as captured by the show’s editors in the chosen take. Her fellow actors adding to the teasing only makes this humorous moment even better.

In a Netflix Korean drama episode, her fellow actors chuckle at a specific scene. Leo Seo-hwan comments, “For just a moment, Yu-ri’s expression is priceless…” The camera then captures her slow-motion response to the situation. Hearing her co-stars gently tease her about not nailing that moment is heartwarming, but it’s Yu-ri’s genuine surprise that steals the show — and it adds significantly to the collection of charming behind-the-scenes moments that make “Squid Game” a one-of-a-kind, and undeniably adorable series.

2025-01-10 23:30