What's new in 'Squid Game 2'? The actors, release date and more
Netflix has recently announced the full cast of the highly anticipated sequel to the Emmy award-winning series and we're pumped.
When Netflix original series, Squid Game was released in 2021, to say that it took the world by storm would be an understatement. The nine-episode survival thriller by director Hwang Dong-hyuk became a worldwide cultural phenomenon as the most watched Netflix series in just a few weeks after its premiere. The series also received critical acclaims, earning a whole slew of nominations including 14 Emmy Award nominations with Lee Jung-jae and Hwang Dong-hyuk winning 'Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series' and 'Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series' respectively. These were all historic moments for the South Korean film and entertainment industry as the global spotlight finally shifted to shine a light on the quality shows that have come out of that nation.
With its incredible success and the rather "open-ended" manner the show ended on, talks of a sequel immediately started brewing and was confirmed in January last year with Hwang Dong-hyuk back in the pilot seat. Now that more information has been released via Netflix's Tudum event, here's everything we know so far about the highly anticipated sequel.
Who are the cast?
Main protagionist of Season 1 and Emmy winner, Lee Jung-jae is confirmed to reprise his role as Seung Gi-hun alongside Lee Byung-hun, Gong Yoo and Wi Ha-jun. We'll have to see if more familliar faces from Season 1 will join the sequel as the rest of the cast has yet to be announced. Fans were also delighted to see some new faces join the Squid Game cast — namely When The Camellia Blooms' Kang Ha-neul, The Glory's Park Sung-hoon, Run On's Im Si-wan and rapper YDG. No news on the females characters yet, so stay tuned.
When will it be released?
As filming will reportedly start in July this year and is expected to last for at least 10 months, it is likely that we'll only see the sequel come out late 2024. Speculations have been made for Christmas next year, though it is entirely dependant on how smooth the production process goes.
What can we expect from the story?
The ending of Season 1 left a few ends loose setting it up perfectly for Season 2, where hopefully we will get some answers. The final scene of Gi-hun walking away from a return to normal life with his family and managing to obtain a 'Squid Game calling card', laying the foundation for a revenge arc after the atrocities he had endured.
There's also Detective Hwang Joon-ho's story that seemingly ended with his death. However, fans have speculated that the possibility of him surviving the fall as a death off-screen often leaves opportunity for that character to return. This is looking especially likely as that arc ended on the climax of Joon-ho discovering that the brother he had been searching for was in front of him all along, as the ominous Front Man of the Squid Game. The aftermath led to his long-lost brother, In-ho regretting his actions, showing some potential internal sabotage that could occur in season 2.
Will there be a Season 3?
Even before the filming of the second season, there are already talks of a third with director Hwang Dong-hyuk confirming the discussions, saying in an interview with The Korea Times, "I’m in talks with Netflix over Season 2 as well as Season 3. We will come to a conclusion any time soon." While this is exciting news, it would be best to keep our hype in check considering Hwang's widely known reluctance to do a second season due to the hardships he went through creating the series. Only time will tell, so watch this space for updates as they come.
