Netflix Officially Renews 'Squid Game' for Season 2

'Squid Game' on Netflix

For a series that took its creator nearly a decade to get made in the first place, ‘Squid Game’ has become quite the phenomenon. And Netflix wants to capitalize on its success, officially confirming that season 2 is in the works.

“The ‘Squid Game’ universe has just begun,” the company’s co-CEO and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos told shareholders, indicating that the cryptic story of lethal children’s games and the desperate people who play them will return.

‘Squid Game’, for anyone who might not be aware, is a Korean thriller series created by movie writer/director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who seeded the show with both emotionally resonant drama and violence, and topical social critique.

In Season 1, 456 cash-poor contestants are invited by a mysterious organization to compete in a series of children’s games – with deadly consequences – to win a piece of the ₩45.6 billion prize pool (around $38.5 million). We won’t spoil how it all works out, especially since it’s best enjoyed without knowing any of the secrets.

It has quickly become Netflix’s most-watched show, with the company estimating that subscribers worldwide streamed 1.65 billion hours of the show in the first 28 days of its release. It inspired many Halloween costumes based on the contestants’ numbered green tracksuits and the orange jumpsuit/face mask combination sported by guards on the show.

Lee Jung-jae in 'Squid Game' on Netflix

From the sounds of it, Netflix is viewing ‘Squid Game’ the same way it does big successes such as ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘Stranger Things’ – properties it can spin-off into all sorts of other formats. Live events, books, merchandise, mobile games, and more are headed our way.

Though he’d indicated that he was looking to return to making movies once the show was completed, it appears creator Hwang realizes what an opportunity he has, and how much demand there is for more of the series. “There’s 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!” he told the Associated Press this past fall. “But I will say there will indeed be a second season. It’s in my head right now. I’m in the planning process currently.”

Hwang has yet to reveal any specific details about what that second season might look like, but we do know that star Lee Jung-jae will return as “Squid Game’s” main character, Seong Gi-hun. The actor recently received a nomination from the 2022 Screen Actors Guild for best actor in a drama series, with co-star Jung Ho-yeon up for best actress in a drama series.

The actors and their co-stars also made history as the first non-English-language series and Korean series to earn a nomination for cast in a drama, along with stunt ensemble.

No date has been set for the series to return – Hwang still needs to finish writing and shooting it – but Netflix will surely be hoping it could be ready for either the end of this year or early next, to keep us all obsessing over it.

'Squid Game' on Netflix