Squid Game was lightning in a bottle. Who could have predicted that this subtitled Korean series would become a worldwide phenomenon, dominating pop culture for weeks after its fall 2021 debut? It’s one of those shows whose success is hard to duplicate, and in a move that shouldn’t surprise anyone, Netflix officially announced yesterday that Squid Game Season 2 is on the way. In a letter to fans posted by Netflix, showrunner Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed some of the first details about the show. You can see his whole note below, but among the reveals were the fact that star Lee Jung-Jae will return as the lead, Gi-hun, while the Front Man, who Korean megastar Lee Byung-hun played, is also set to return, in addition to some new characters.
At the end of Season 1, Gi-hun, who managed to win the deadly game, skipped out on a reunion with his estranged daughter to chase down a lead over where the game came from. Presumably, he’ll wind up playing again next season. Maybe The Front Man will play too, but this seems unlikely. Lee Byung-hun is like the Tom Cruise of South Korea, so I assume that if he’s back, his role will be like it was in the first season, meaning more of an extended cameo.
Indeed, Squid Game has become such a phenomenon that Netflix and many other streamers are betting big on international content, which is an encouraging sign. The success of a show like this proves viewers of all ages are not scared away by subtitles. Quality content is quality content no matter where it comes from, and I’m psyched to dig into Squid Game Season 2.
What other international shows are worth checking out? Let us know in the comments what some of your favourites are!