Netflix has announced that the popular Korean series ‘Squid Game’ will have a third season, while also confirming that Season 2 will start on December 26 this year.
In a statement released on Thursday, Netflix said that the show will end with season 3 in 2025.
The show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, said, “It’s been almost three years since Season 1 was a big hit around the world. I’m very excited to tell you that Season 2 will start soon and that we will also have a third and final season.”
Hwang also shared some details about the new seasons. “Seong Gi-hun, who wanted revenge at the end of Season 1, comes back to the game. Will he get his revenge? The Front Man will be a tough opponent again. Their intense fight will continue in Season 3, which you will see next year.”
He added, “I’m happy to see how the story of ‘Squid Game’ has grown. We will do our best to make the final seasons exciting. I hope you’re looking forward to what’s coming.”
Netflix had already announced a second season for the smash hit in June 2022. The new seasons will bring back characters Gi-Hun and The Front Man.
As the countdown to Season 2 begins, excitement is higher than ever. Fans can look forward to an emotional rollercoaster full of suspense, mystery, and surprising twists. The deadly games will return with even higher stakes, promising a thrilling experience.
Beyond the action, ‘Squid Game’ has always offered deep social messages, and Season 2 is expected to continue exploring these themes. The final chapter promises to be as exciting and thought-provoking as the earlier seasons.
Emmy-winning actor Lee Jung-jae, known for his role as Gi-hun in the hit series ‘Squid Game,’ has announced the release date for Season 2. Fans are excited to dive back into the intense storyline created by Hwang Dong-hyuk.
Lee Jung-Jae confirmed to Business Insider that ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 will premiere in December this year.
This supports Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos’ earlier comments about the new season arriving in the latter half of 2024, as reported by Screenrant.
Season 2 will follow Gi-hun’s quest for revenge as he tries to take down the organization behind the deadly games.
The season will continue exploring the struggles of contestants fighting for a huge cash prize, with Gi-hun’s transformation adding an exciting twist. Returning and new faces
Lee Jung-jae will return in his iconic role, alongside Lee Byung-hun, Gong Yoo, and Wi Ha-jun. Fans eagerly await December to see Gi-hun’s journey and how new characters impact the game’s stakes.
South Korea’s Squid Game actor O Yeong-su has been found guilty of sexual misconduct, a local court said Friday, after he was charged with assaulting a woman in 2017.
The 79-year-old in 2022 became the first South Korean to win a Golden Globe Award for best supporting actor in a series for his performance as a seemingly vulnerable old man in the mega-hit Netflix dystopian thriller.
The actor was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court told AFP.
He has been also ordered to complete 40 hours of classes on sexual violence, the court added.
The victim’s own records of the assault and her claims are “consistent … and appear to be statements that cannot be made without actually experiencing them,” judge Jeong Yeon-ju said, according to the court.
O was indicted in 2022 without detention on charges of sexually assaulting a woman, who has not been identified, on two occasions.
The incidents took place when O was staying in a rural area for a theatre performance in 2017, on a walking path and in front of the victim’s residence, respectively, according to the Suwon District Court. Squid Game, a series that depicts a dark world where marginalised individuals are forced to compete in deadly versions of traditional children’s games, quickly gained immense popularity on Netflix.
Within less than four weeks of its release in 2021, it attracted a staggering 111 million viewers.
The show’s success has amplified South Korea’s increasingly outsized influence on global popular culture, following global fame won by the likes of K-pop band BTS and the Oscar-winning film Parasite.
Multiple figures in South Korea’s film industry — including late filmmaker Kim Ki-duk and actor Cho Jae-hyun — have faced sexual assault allegations.
Netflix released a reality television show based on the popular Korean series ‘Squid Games’, featuring contestants competing in a series of games for a coveted prize. However, news reports reveal that contestants are taking legal action against Netflix and the producers by claiming they suffered extensive injuries during filming.
The players spoke about their experience in shooting some of the popular games from the show including ‘Red Light, Green Light’, in which players must try to reach the finish line without drawing the attention of the robot doll. British law firm Express Solicitors is representing two clients who had taken part in the contest. Both have said they had no idea about the risks they had to take while shooting during cold periods for long months. Filming for the games took place at Cardington Studios in Bedfordshire during a cold winter in Britain. Several participants required medical treatment.
“Contestants thought they were taking part in something fun and those injured did not expect to suffer as they did. Now they have been left with injuries after spending time being stuck in painful stress positions in cold temperatures,” said the CEO of Express Solicitors Daniel Slade to The Guardian.
Slade recalled one client who witnessed “seeing someone faint, then people shouting for medics. We have a case where someone complains of hypothermia. One had his hands turn purple from the cold.”
The reality television series comes after the successful Korean drama, the most-watched show on Netflix, surpassing the popular British period drama “Bridgerton”. It received several Primetime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Drama Series, with Lee Jung-Jae winning Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama series, becoming the first Asian actor to do so.
The series follows broke father Seong Gi-Hun, who decides to enroll in the games in order to provide for his mother, and win custody of his daughter.
The 74th Emmy Awards were held on Monday night from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, where they were hosted by Kenan Thompson. Similar to last year, the ceremony was largely in-person and reminiscent of pre-pandemic award shows.
Succession, which had the most nominations, with 25, took home awards for best drama and writing for a drama series, and Matthew Macfadyen took home the Emmy for best supporting actor in a drama. “The White Lotus” won for best limited series, best writing and best directing, as well as for best supporting actor and actress for Murray Bartlett and Jennifer Coolidge.
Sheryl Lee Ralph won her first Emmy for best supporting actress for “Abbott Elementary,” making her only the second Black woman to win the award. Lee Jung-jae became the first person from a foreign language show, “Squid Game,” to win best actor in a drama.
“Ted Lasso,” which was up for 20 awards, took home best comedy. Jason Sudeikis and Brett Goldstein won for their performances, and MJ Delaney won for directing.
These are this year’s Emmy winners:
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Colin Firth, The Staircase Andrew Garfield, Under the Banner of Heaven Oscar Isaac, Scenes From a Marriage WINNER: Michael Keaton, Dopesick Himesh Patel, Station Eleven Sebastian Stan, Pam & Tommy
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
WINNER: Murray Bartlett, The White Lotus Jake Lacy, The White Lotus Will Poulter, Dopesick Seth Rogen, Pam & Tommy Peter Sarsgaard, Dopesick Michael Stuhlbarg, Dopesick Steve Zahn, The White Lotus
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Nicholas Braun, Succession Billy Crudup, The Morning Show Kieran Culkin, Succession Park Hae-soo, Squid Game WINNER: Matthew Macfayden, Succession John Turturro, Severance Christopher Walken, Severance Oh Yeong-su, Squid Game
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Patricia Arquette, Severance WINNER: Julia Garner, Ozark Jung Ho-yeon, Squid Game Christina Ricci, Yellowjackets J. Smith Cameron, Succession Sarah Snook, Succession Sydney Sweeney, Euphoria Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Janelle James, Abbott Elementary Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live Sarah Niles, Ted Lasso WINNER: Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary Juno Temple, Ted Lasso Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Carrigan, Barry WINNER: Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso Toheeb Jimoh, Ted Lasso Nick Mohammed, Ted Lasso Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary Henry Winkler, Barry Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
A Black Lady Sketch Show WINNER: Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Variety Talk Series
The Daily Show With Trevor Noah Jimmy Kimmel Live WINNER: Last Week Tonight With John Oliver Late Night With Seth Meyers The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Connie Britton, The White Lotus WINNER: Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus Alexandra Daddario, The White Lotus Kaitlyn Dever, Dopesick Natasha Rothwell, The White Lotus Sydney Sweeney, The White Lotus Mare Winningham, Dopesick
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Toni Collette, The Staircase Julia Garner, Inventing Anna Lily James, Pam & Tommy Sarah Paulson, Impeachment: American Crime Story Margaret Qualley, Maid WINNER: Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout
Outstanding Competition Program
The Amazing Race WINNER: Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls Nailed It! RuPaul’s Drag Race Top Chef The Voice
Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series or Movie
Dopesick, Danny Strong The Dropout, Michael Showalter The Dropout, Francesca Gregorini Maid, John Wells Station Eleven, Hiro Murai WINNER: The White Lotus, Mike White
Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or Movie
Dopesick, Danny Strong The Dropout, Elizabeth Meriwether Impeachment: American Crime Story, Sarah Burgess Maid, Molly Smith Metzler Station Eleven, Patrick Sommerville WINNER: The White Lotus, Mike White
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
Ali Wong: Don Wong, Ali Wong The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Globe — Hungary for Democracy, Ian Berger, Devin Delliquanti, Jennifer Flanz, Jordan Klepper, Zhubin Parang, Scott Sherman WINNER: Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel, Jerrod Carmichael Nicole Byer, BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo), Nicole Byer Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special, Norm Macdonald
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Donald Glover, Atlanta Bill Hader, Barry Nicholas Hoult, The Great Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building WINNER: Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
WINNER: Abbott Elementary, “Pilot,” Quinta Brunson Barry, “710N,” Duffy Boudreau Barry, “starting now,” Alec Berg and Bill Hader Hacks, “The One, the Only,” Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky Only Murders in the Building, “True Crime,” Steve Martin and John Hoffman Ted Lasso, “No Weddings and a Funeral,” Jane Becker What We Do in the Shadows, “The Casino,” Sarah Naftalis What We Do in the Shadows, “The Wellness Center,” Stefani Robinson
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Ozark, “A Hard Way to Go,” Jason Bateman Severance, “The We We Are,” Ben Stiller WINNER: Squid Game, “Red Light, Green Light,” Hwang Dong-hyuk Succession, “All the Bells Say,” Mark Mylod Succession, “The Disruption,” Cathy Yan Succession, “Too Much Birthday,” Lorene Scarfaria Yellowjackets, “Pilot,” Karen Kusama
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve Laura Linney, Ozark Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets Sandra Oh, Killing Eve Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show WINNER: Zendaya, Euphoria
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant Elle Fanning, The Great Issa Rae, Insecure WINNER: Jean Smart, Hacks
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Atlanta, “New Jazz,” Hiro Murai Barry, “710N,” Bill Hader Hacks, “There Will Be Blood,” Lucia Aniello The Ms. Pat Show, “Baby Daddy Groundhog Day,” Mary Lou Belli Only Murders in the Building, “The Boy from 6B,” Cherien Dabis Only Murders in the Building, “True Crime,” Jamie Babbit WINNER: Ted Lasso, “No Weddings and a Funeral,” MJ Delaney
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Better Call Saul, “Plan and Execution,” Thomas Schnauz Ozark, “A Hard Way to Go,” Chris Mundy Severance, “The We We Are,” Dan Erickson Squid Game, “One Lucky Day,” Hwang Dong-hyuk WINNER: Succession, “All the Bells Say,” Jesse Armstrong Yellowjackets, “F Sharp,” Jonathan Lisco, Ashley Lyle, and Bart Nickerson Yellowjackets, “Pilot,” Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman, Ozark Brian Cox, Succession WINNER: Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul Adam Scott, Severance Jeremy Strong, Succession
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Dopesick, Hulu The Dropout, Hulu Inventing Anna, Netflix Pam & Tommy, Hulu WINNER: The White Lotus, HBO
Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary Barry Curb Your Enthusiasm Hacks The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Only Murders in the Building WINNER: Ted Lasso What We Do in the Shadows
Outstanding Drama Series
Better Call Saul Euphoria Ozark Severance Squid Game Stranger Things WINNER: Succession Yellowjackets
Below are key trophies handed out at the Creative Arts Emmys on Sept. 3 and 4. For even more winners, head over here.
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Adrien Brody, Succession James Cromwell, Succession WINNER: Colman Domingo, Euphoria Arian Moayed, Succession Tom Pelphrey, Ozark Alexander Skarsgard, Succession
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Hope Davis, Succession Marcia Gay Harden, The Morning Show Martha Kelly, Euphoria Sanaa Lathan, Succession Harriet Walter, Succession WINNER: Lee You-mi, Squid Game
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Jane Adams, Hacks Harriet Sansom Harris, Hacks Jane Lynch, Only Murders in the Building WINNER: Laurie Metcalf, Hacks Kaitlin Olson, Hacks Harriet Walter, Ted Lasso
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Jerrod Carmichael, Saturday Night Live Bill Hader, Curb Your Enthusiasm James Lance, Ted Lasso WINNER: Nathan Lane, Only Murders in the Building Christopher McDonald, Hacks Sam Richardson, Ted Lasso
Outstanding Television Movie
WINNER: Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers Ray Donovan: The Movie Reno 911: The Hunt for QAnon The SurvivorZoey’s Extraordinary Christmas
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program
Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, Queer Eye Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Making It Nicole Byer, Nailed It! Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, Kevin O’Leary, Shark Tank Padma Lakshmi, Top Chef WINNER: RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race
Outstanding Variety Special (Live) The 64th Annual Grammy Awards Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes The Oscars WINNER: Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent Tony Awards Presents: Broadway’s Back!
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-recorded)
WINNER: Adele: One Night Only Dave Chappelle: The Closer Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman The Problem With Jon Stewart WINNER: Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy
Netflix lost 200,000 clientele in the most recent quarter, a significant loss for the streaming titan which has enjoyed exponential user growth over the previous decade. The company revealed that it fell far short of its own low estimates of 2.5 million new users by the start of 2022.
Except for the Asia Pacific market, where it witnessed a net gain of almost 1 million customers, the streaming giant lost users in nearly every region.
Netflix lost roughly 640,000 subscribers in the United States and Canada in the first quarter, a higher decline than its prior subscriber loss in the region last year, and 300,000 in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and 350,000 in Latin America.
The decline is projected to continue into the second quarter when Netflix expects to lose another 2 million customers.
Netflix co-CEO Reed Hastings stated in a pre-recorded interview that the company will look into creating an ad-supported tier in the “next year or two” – a move that Netflix officials had previously opposed.
“Those who have followed Netflix know that I have been a vocal opponent of advertising complexity and a strong supporter of subscription simplicity. But, as much as I enjoy that, I prefer consumer choice, and letting consumers who want a lower price and are tolerant of advertisements to obtain what they want makes a lot of sense,” Hastings added. “Think of us as being fairly open to delivering even lower costs as a consumer choice with advertising”.
.According to CFO Spencer Neumann, the streamer will also draw back some of its content investment over the next two years in order to boost revenue growth. During the pre-recorded interview, Neumann added, “We’re cutting back on some of our spend increases across both content and non-content expenditure and we’re trying to be wise and sensible about it, reining in some of that expenditure increase to match the realities of the business’s revenue growth”.
Due to the company’s poor performance in Q4 and lowered estimates for the first quarter, Wall Street had low expectations for Netflix going into Tuesday’s earnings. Netflix’s move to cease service in Russia, where the streamer claims to have 700,000 customers, was also expected to have an impact on subscriber growth.
Netflix said in its shareholder letter that it would have added 500,000 customers in the first quarter if the losses in Russia were not taken into account.
However, Netflix attributed its slowing growth in Q1 to a number of issues, including account sharing, the pandemic’s prolonged disruption, and, once again, greater competition from competing streamers.
Netflix revealed in a shareholder letter on Tuesday that more than 100 million of its 222 million paid subscriptions were pooled with viewers outside of paying customers, with 30 million shared accounts in the US and Canada alone.
Korean actors Lee Jung Jae and Jung Ho Yeon who starred in a popular Netflix show, Squid Game grabbed two awards at the International Screen Actor Guild (SAG). Lee Jung Jae has won the Outstanding Performance by a male actor in a drama series while Jung Ho Yeon has grabbed the award for a female actor in a drama series. Squid Game also succeeded in winning an Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series.
This is the first time for any Korean actors and foreign drama to win the SAG awards.
While accepting his award, Jung Jae said, “Oh my. Thank you so much. This is truly huge. I wrote something, but I don’t think I can read it. Thank you so much, SAG Awards. Thank you to the global audience for all of your love for ‘Squid Game,’ and thank you ‘Squid Game’ team!”
His reaction says it all ♥️ Lee Jung-Jae takes home the Actor® for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series! #sagawardspic.twitter.com/efqompdngz
Jung Ho Yeon got emotional when taking her first International award for Squid Game.
In her acceptance speech, she said, “First of all, thank you so much. I have been watching all of you on a big screen as an audience, dreaming to become an actor myself one day. I just want to say thank you so much and I’m so honored to be here.”
She further added, “Thank you for making my dream (come true) and opening the door for me. Love you Squid Game team!”
Co-CEO and Chief Content Officer of Netflix, Ted Sarandos has confirmed the 2nd season of the global top trending Korean show ‘Squid Game’ of 2021.
In 2021, the question was asked about the possibility of a second season of the Korean show on which Sarandos revealed, “Absolutely, the ‘Squid Game’ universe has just begun.”
The Squid Game director also hinted about a second and third season of Squid Game last year while giving an interview to the Korea Broadcasting System, KBS programme, where he opened up about plans to release the next season of the web series. He said, “I’m currently in the midst of discussions with Netflix about Season 2 and Season 3 [of ‘Squid Game’].”
Netflix is investing millions of dollars in the Korean entertainment industry in financing partnerships and co-productions in South Korea since 2015.
Recently, Netflix released the first teaser and primary characters of Korean adaptation of the popular Spanish show ‘Money Heist‘.
The audience will be able to view more Korean content in the year, 2022 including All of Us Are Dead which will release on January 28, 2022. The story revolves around high school students trying to survive a zombie virus epidemic.
Netflix has released the first teaser with characters of the Korean remake of Money Heist, a famous Netflix Spanish web series that was ended with Season 5 in the last year.
In the teaser, the original character of Professor is being played by the Korean actor Yoo Ji-Tae who seems to be planning the first robbery. The Korean version is named Money Heist: Korea-Joint Economic Area.
According to the Netflix website, the story illustrates the genius strategist who is staging the exceptional heist in the Korean Peninsula with his talented crew.
The story would captivate the audience with unexpected twists and turns as the crew stage a hostage while facing inexplicable challenges.
All eyes are focused on the background and definition behind the title Joint Economic Area.
The first season of the upcoming Korean adaptation will consist of 12 episodes.
Here is the look of all characters playing in the Korean adaptation.
Korean digital content has been enjoying global popularity since the release of Squid Game which was the top trending web series worldwide on Netflix.
Netflix, while talking about the adaption in a statement said: “The international popularity of the La casa de Papel is proof that significant works based in different cultures and languages can be widely distributed by Netflix and loved by audiences worldwide.”
Netflix has produced more than 200 original titles, including over 70 Korean live-action and anime titles. The company has also invested more than $700 million in financing partnerships and co-productions in South Korea since 2015 and the country has 3.3 million paid subscribers as of September 30.
Squid Game director, Hwang Dong Hyuk revealed that he is in discussion with the streaming site, Netflix for season 2 and season 3 of the web series.
Squid Game series trended number 1 worldwide in the year, 2021.
Hwang Dong Hyuk recently appeared on the Korea Broadcasting System, KBS programme, News Line where he opened up about the plans of releasing next season of web series. He said, “I’m currently in the midst of discussions with Netflix about Season 2 and Season 3 [of ‘Squid Game’].”
He further continued, “I think we’ll be reaching some sort of conclusion [to our discussions] soon.”
He added, “We know that many people are waiting, so everyone is working hard to prepare for the next season with a positive outlook.”
He also disclosed the main plotline of season 2 of the popular web series that the focus will be on the character of Seong Gi Hun who was played by Lee Jung Jae in Season 1. He (Seong Gi Hun) will unravel the mysteries of the organisation behind the game.
He also shared, “The overarching plotline of Season 2 will be the story of the people that Gi Hun meets and the people he chases after.”
Netflix also officially commented on the possible release of season 3 of Squid Game, “It’s true that we are discussing a wide variety of possibilities for ‘Squid Game,’ including the production of a Season 3, but nothing has yet been set in stone.”
