'The universe has just begun': Netflix confirms 'Squid Game 2'
Netflix tasted gold with the hit series Squid Game last year. Ushering in a huge number of eyeballs, the South Korean show found its place cemented in the wave of pop culture. Now, the streaming platform has confirmed that the second season of Squid Game is coming. Earlier, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk had assured viewers that he was indeed planning the next installment.
- After premiering on Netflix in September, the ensemble survival drama broke several records in terms of viewership.
- It even picked up three nominations at Golden Globes, with veteran South Korean actor O Yeong-su bagging a win in the best supporting actor (television) category, thereby creating history.
- Thereafter, Squid Game became the first non-English-language series to score a nomination at Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards.
While it was more or less established the satirical show will return for at least another season, development has been given a thumbs-up by Netflix's co-chief executive officer and chief content officer Ted Sarandos. When asked about the show's future, Sarandos said, "Absolutely. The Squid Game universe has just begun." According to Variety, the statement came during Netflix's fourth-quarter 2021 earnings interview.
Apart from commenting on the No. 1 most-viewed TV series, the top executive also commented on other successful shows on the platform that aimed at building lucrative franchises. Sarandos noted how the regal drama Bridgerton was coming back with a second season in March (the show has been already renewed for seasons three and four). Also, Stranger Things 4 is slated to premiere soon.
Coming back to Squid Game, last year, Dong-hyuk had said: "There's been so much pressure and so much love for a second season. So I almost feel like you leave us no choice! I'm in the planning process currently." The inaugural season had ended with a cliff-hanger, and as per Dong-hyuk, lead star Lee Jung-jae (Gi-hun) will essay a crucial role in season two.
