Squid Game
Squid Game is a South Korean thriller-horror TV series created, written, and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk for Netflix. The show focuses on a secretive competition where 456 financially struggling participants put their lives on the line to play dangerous versions of children's games, with the ultimate prize being ₩45.6 billion. The series' name is inspired by a traditional Korean children's game called squid.
| Squid Game | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Hwang Dong-hyuk |
| Written by | Hwang Dong-hyuk |
| Directed by | Hwang Dong-hyuk |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Jung Jae-il |
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Original language | Korean |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 16 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | |
| Producers | |
| Cinematography | |
| Editor | Nam Na-yeong[5] |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 33–76 minutes |
| Production company | Siren Pictures Inc.[6] |
| Budget | US$21.4 million (Season 1) Template:KRW (Season 2)[7] |
| Release | |
| Original network | Netflix |
| Original release | September 17, 2021 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Squid Game: The Challenge |
| External links | |
| [{{#property:P856}} Website] | |
Hwang came up with the idea for "Squid Game" based on his personal economic struggles and the class disparities in South Korea under capitalism. Although he wrote the story in 2009, he couldn't find a production company interested in funding it until Netflix showed interest around 2019, as part of their push to expand their international programming.
The first season of "Squid Game" was released globally on September 17, 2021, and it received critical acclaim and widespread attention. It became Netflix's most-watched series and garnered numerous accolades. Production for the second season started in July 2023, and the season was released on December 26, 2024. A third and final season has been announced and is currently in development, with an expected release date in 2025.
PremiseEdit
In South Korea, Seong Gi-hun, a divorced father and gambling addict living with his elderly mother, receives an invitation to participate in a series of children's games for a chance to win a large cash prize. He accepts the offer and is taken to an unknown location, where he finds 455 other financially struggling individuals. The participants are given green tracksuits and are constantly monitored by masked guards in red jumpsuits. The games are overseen by the Front Man, who wears a black mask and uniform.
The players soon realize that losing any game results in death, with each death adding ₩100 million to the potential ₩45.6 billion grand prize. Gi-hun forms alliances with other players, such as his childhood friend Cho Sang-woo and North Korean defector Kang Sae-byeok, to navigate the physical and psychological challenges of the games. Meanwhile, Detective Hwang Jun-ho joins the guards to investigate the disappearance of his brother, infiltrating the games from the inside.
EpisodesEdit
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
Season 1 (2021)Edit
Season 2 (2024)Edit
| Squid Game | |
|---|---|
| Season 2 | |
| Korean promotional poster featuring notable characters running away in a carousel-themed location with dead people on the ground Promotional poster | |
| Starring |
|
| No. of episodes | 7 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Netflix |
| Original release | 26 December 2024 |
The second season of the South Korean dystopian survival thriller horror series "Squid Game," titled "Squid Game 2," was created by Korean writer and television producer Hwang Dong-hyuk. Produced by Netflix, it premiered on December 26, 2024. The season features an ensemble cast including Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon, Lee Byung-hun, Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Lee Jin-wook, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Jo Yu-ri, Kang Ae-shim, Lee Seo-hwan, and Park Gyu-young.
Set three years after the events of the first season, the story follows Seong Gi-hun's life after winning the Squid Game. Instead of moving to the United States, he returns to the games with a new purpose. Gi-hun re-enters the mysterious survival game, joining new participants in another life-or-death contest for the prize of ₩45.6 billion.
A side plot in the season revolves around Hwang Jun-ho, who is working with the military to locate Gi-hun. It has been confirmed that a third and final season will be released in 2025, which was filmed concurrently with the second season.
Cast and charactersEdit
Main castEdit
Numbers in parentheses denote the character's assigned player number in the Squid Game universe.
- Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun (성기훈, ko, 456)
- Wi Ha-joon as Hwang Jun-ho (황준호, ko)
- Lee Byung-hun as Hwang In-ho, the Front Man (황인호, ko, 001), also known by his pseudonym "Oh Yeong-il"" in the games
- Im Si-wan as Lee Myung-gi (이명기, 333)[8][9]
- Kang Ha-neul as Kang Dae-ho (강대호, 388)[8][9]
- Lee Jin-wook as Park Gyeong-seok (박경석, 246)[10][9]
- Park Sung-hoon as Cho Hyun-ju (조현주, 120)[8][9]
- Yang Dong-geun as Park Yong-sik (박용식, 007)[8][9]
- Jo Yu-ri as Kim Jun-hee (김준희, 222)[10][9]
- Kang Ae-shim as Jang Geum-ja (장금자, 149)[10][9]
- Lee Seo-hwan as Park Jung-bae (박정배, 390)[9]
- Park Gyu-young as Kang No-eul (강노을)[10][9]
RecurringEdit
- Park Hee-soon as Masked Officer
- Kim Byeong-cheol as Square
- Lee Sang-jun as Pink Soldier Manager
- Jeon Seok-ho as Choi Woo-seok[11]
- Chae Cook-hee as Seon-nyeo (선녀, 044)[12][9]
- Song Young-chang as Im Jeong-dae (임정대, 100)[13]
- Lee David as Min-su (민수, 125)[10][9]
- Choi Seung-hyun as Choi Su-bong “Thanos” (230)[10][9]
- Roh Jae-won as Nam-gyu (남규, 124)[10][9]
- Won Ji-an as Se-mi (380)[10][9]
- Kim Si-eun as Kim Young-mi (095) [14][15][16][9]
- Oh Dal-su as Sea Captain Park[17][18]
Guest castEdit
- Gong Yoo as a salesman who recruits participants for the Game
- Park Hye-jin as Sang-woo's mother
- Park Si-wan as Kang Cheol, Kang Sae-byeok's younger brother
- Sung Do-hyun as the mercenary Kim
- Kim Pub-lae|ko as Mr Kim
- Song Ji-woo|ko as Kang Mi-na (196)
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lehnen, Christine (October 6, 2021). "'Squid Game': more than a traditional survival thriller". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ↑ Tan, Monica (September 30, 2021). "Squid Game: the smash-hit South Korean horror is a perfect fit for our dystopian mood". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "{{{title}}}". Squid Game. Netflix. No. 1, season 1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 {{{title}}}. Netflix. No. 1, season 2.
- ↑ "Catching up with Emmy-nominated "Squid Game" Editor Nam Na-young". Filmmaker U. 19 August 2022. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
- ↑ Lee, Julie (August 10, 2021). "Squid Game invites you to deadly childhood games on September 17". Netflix Media Center. Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
- ↑ Kim, Joon-hyeong (November 21, 2024). 래몽래인, 주가 급등…"흥행 자신" '오징어 게임2' 관심 폭발 [RaemongRaein, stock price skyrockets… “Confident in box office success” Explosion of interest in ‘Squid Game 2’]. thebigdata (in 한국어). Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Netflix reveals Squid Game season 2 new and returning cast". Polygon. November 9, 2021. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 Squid Game: Season 2 | Meet the Cast | Netflix. Netflix. December 4, 2024. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 Porter, Rick (2023-06-29). "'Squid Game' Adds Eight Actors, Completes Season 2 Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
- ↑ Hwang So-young (December 20, 2023). [단독] '열일' 전석호 '범죄도시3' 이어 '오징어게임2' 출연 [[Exclusive] Jeon Seok-ho of 'Hard Day' appears in 'Squid Game 2' following 'Crime City 3'] (in 한국어). JTBC. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ↑ "A YouTuber, a rapper, a shaman and more: Meet the 'Squid Game' season 2 characters". Korea JoongAng Daily. December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ↑ Sharma, Dhruv (December 26, 2024). "Every Player in Squid Game Season 2 Explained". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ↑ Rose, Hemaline (June 26, 2023). "'Squid Game 2': Female lead announced". Asiana Times. Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ↑ Chin, Carmen (November 8, 2023). "'Squid Game' season two is "so far so good", says actress Kim Si-eun". NME. Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ↑ [단독] 김시은, '오징어 게임2' 여주인공 캐스팅...제2의 정호연 될까 [[Exclusive] Kim Si-eun cast as the female lead in 'Squid Game 2'... Will she be the next Jung Ho-yeon?]. OSEN (in 한국어). 2023-06-26. Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ↑ KTimes (March 14, 2024). "Oh Dal-soo confirmed to join cast of 'Squid Game' season 2". TheKoreaTimes. Archived from the original on March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.