Squid Game fans, get ready for another round because season 2 is a go!
Fans were left on a major cliffhanger in the season 1 finale after the show's main character, Seong Gi-hun (played by breakout star Lee Jung-jae), seemingly challenged the shadowy faction behind the show's titular children's game. Rather than enjoy his lofty ā©45 billion cash prize, it seems Gi-hun is dead set on getting revenge for the atrocities he witnessed during his time on the show's remote island setting ā and potentially honoring the memory of Sae-Byeok (Jung Ho-yeon), the scrappy pickpocket who fought hard to be among the final three-game contestants.
Initially, the show's writer and director Hwang Dong-hyuk had maintained that he didn't have any plans for a second season of Squid Game, per Vulture. But after becoming one of Netflix's most popular show ever, it seems that the creator began thinking twice about the potential of revisiting how Seong Gi-hun will tackle the secret organization behind the deadly game, and to think of a few new ways to expand the universe of Squid Game, given that many beloved characters in the show's first season were killed off.
If you're wondering what the future holds after last season's dramatic wrap-up, here's everything we know so far about a potential season 2 of the Korean scripted drama series.
Has Squid Game been renewed for a second season?
Squid Game season 2 is officially happening.
In January 2022, Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos announced the news while the streaming service was conducting its fourth quarter 2021 earnings interview. When asked if the Korean survival thriller would be coming back for a second installment, he said: āAbsolutely. The Squid Game universe has just begun.ā
Before this formal confirmation from Netflix, Hwang Dong-hyuk shared that he was all in for another chapter. Speaking with the Associated Press in early November 2021, the Squid Game creator was thrilled by the incredible global response.
āThereās been so much pressure, so much demand and so much love for a second season. So I almost feel like you leave us no choice!ā he told the outlet. āBut I will say there will indeed be a second season. Itās in my head right now. Iām in the planning process, currently.ā
Does Squid Game season 2 have an official release date?
Not an exact date, but it will be sometime this year! "Looking ahead, despite last yearās strikes pushing back the launch of some titles, we have a big, bold slate for 2024," Netflix wrote in a letter to shareholders in January 2024.
Make sure you hit "save" at the top of this article to stay up-to-date on the latest news about Squid Game season 2.
What could the second season of Squid Game be about?
In October 2021, Hwang revealed he has been thinking about potential storylines for another season of Squid Game and detailed his plans in an interview with The Times. Clearly, it's a strong possibility that we'll see Gi-hun confront and investigate the cult-like organization behind the Squid Game itself, including the nefarious masked "Front Man" (Lee Byung-hun) who shot his own brother Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon). Since the cliffhanger episode had Gi-hun answering a call about the next round of games, fans have picked up an implication he may try to infiltrate the arena as previous characters did in season 1.
While fans of the show easily became invested in how and why Jun-ho infiltrated the Squid Game to locate his missing brother, the show never revealed how the Front Man came to be in the first place. Nor did the show confirm that Jun-ho really died when he fell off the cliff after being shot by the Front Man.
It seems that the show's director does want to take a closer look at the Front Man in a second season. "If I do get to do one ā one would be the story of the Front Man [a former cop who now oversees the game]. I think the issue with police officers is not just an issue in Korea," Hwang told The Times. "This was an issue that I wanted to raise. Maybe in season two I can talk about this more."
In a note posted on Netflix's Tudum in June 2022, he offered more concrete answers to some of our burning questions. He released a statement via Netflix about what fans could look forward to. "It took 12 years to bring the first season of Squid Game to life last year," Hwang said in the note. "But it took 12 days for Squid Game to become the most popular Netflix series ever. As the writer, director, and producer of Squid Game, a huge shout out to fans around the world. Thank you for watching and loving our show."
He continued: "Now, Gi-hun returns. The Front Man returns. Season 2 is coming. The man in the suit with ddakji might be back. Youāll also be introduced to Young-heeās boyfriend, Cheol-su. Join us once more for a whole new round."
Whoa. Those are definitely some juicy deets, and we want more info ASAP. But there's one person who's not into knowing anything about the upcoming season: Lee Jung-jae. In a July 2022 interview with IndieWire, he spoke about his preference of no spoilers, especially as he gets access to new scripts.
"Yes, Iām dying to know as well!" he told the outlet. "But Iām trying not to ask the director any questions because I have to have that very striking feeling when I read the script for the first time to be able to translate that intense emotion into my performance. So Iām just waiting until that moment when I get the script."
No matter what creative direction Hwang decides to go with, be prepared to see characters question their personal solidarity ā to others and to themselves. "I want to ask the question, āIs true solidarity between humans possible?ā" he told Vanity Fair in May 2022. "If they were capable of talking with one another, of cooperating with one another, I do agree that there could have been a possibility that we could have seen more winners.ā
Who would be in the second season of Squid Game?
This may be the easiest question fans can get answers on at the moment, as Squid Game killed off many of its characters throughout season 1. As of right now, we know the show's lead star Lee Jung-jae and antagonist Lee Byung-hun are the only ones confirmed to be returning for Squid Game season 2. Hwang revealed this news for Lee in November 2021, but admitted that he didn't know the character's next move.
āI do think itās too early to say when and how thatās going to happen," he told the Associated Press. "So I will promise you this, Gi-hun will come back. He will do something for the world.
As for the rest of the Squid Game season 2 cast, don't rule out anyone just yet. In a March iterview with Deadline, Hwang had some ideas for the new season, and it may just have old characters coming back in unique ways. "No, because most of them are dead,ā Hwang said when asked about season 1 characters potentially making a reappearance. āIāll try something to bring them back to Season 2.ā
If there is a chance that the show's developers work in prequel scenes or flashbacks throughout season 2, here's who is likely to return:
- Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun
- Lee Byung-hun as the Front Man
- Wi Ha-joon as Hwang Jun-ho
- Park Hye-jin as Cho Sang-Woo's mother
- Park Si-wan as Kang Cheol
How can I watch and stream Squid Game?
You can head on over to Netflix to watch season 1 of Squid Game. Anyone can stream the show through the Netflix website or the Netflix app, which works on a multitude of smart devices with streaming capabilities, including iPhone, Android, Roku, Apple TV or Amazon's Fire TV. If you're new to Netflix, sign up for a plan starting at $6.99 monthly.
