There Will Be No “Squid Game” Season 4, Director Denies All Speculations Despite This Famous Hollywood Actress Cameo Appearance
Director Hwang Dong Hyuk has opened up about the possibility of an American version and spin-off of “Squid Game.”
On June 30, Hwang Dong Hyuk sat down for an interview with MyDaily at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, where he talked about the Netflix original series Squid Game Season 3 and more.
NOTE: spoilers of season 3 finale below!
Squid Game Season 3 tells the story of Gi Hun (played by Lee Jung Jae), who returns to the deadly games with a new purpose and ends up losing his closest friend; the Front Man (Lee Byung Hun), who hides his identity and reenters the game; and the remaining players who struggle to survive until the end. Since its Season 1 premiere in 2021, Squid Game has received global acclaim and become a proud symbol of K-content.
During the interview, Hwang said, “Squid Game has always told the story through the journey of one person. Now that Seong Gi Hun has died, there’s no room for more Squid Game. There are no plans to produce further seasons,” clearly shutting down hopes for another installment.
However, the appearance of Cate Blanchett as the “ddakji woman” at the end of Season 3 sparked speculation that this might be setting up an American spin-off. Addressing this, Hwang explained, “At one point, I did consider an ending where Seong Gi Hun goes to America and witnesses another recruitment process. If we had gone with that, maybe there could’ve been a continuation.”
He clarified, however, “Gi Hun’s death wasn’t meant to hint at a sequel. His efforts brought an end to things in Korea, but the system is still strong and won’t disappear easily. The ending was meant to reflect that — it wasn’t intended to connect to an American version.”
There were also international reports claiming an American version of Squid Game would begin production in December in Los Angeles, directed by David Fincher and starring Cate Blanchett. Rumors also mentioned Hwang’s involvement. However, he denied all of it.
Related: “Squid Game 3” Brutal Ending Explained
“That’s completely baseless,” he said. “It seems like rumors were turned into news. I’ve never officially heard about any of it — I’ve only read about it in articles. I don’t know how much of it is true, but talk of it being filmed in December, me directing, Cate Blanchett appearing, David Fincher directing — none of it is grounded in fact.”
He added with a laugh, “I do like David Fincher. I’ve been a fan since Se7en. If they really made it, I think it’d be fun, and I’d love to watch it. If I were ever formally asked to be involved, I might give it serious thought.”
As for a spin-off focused on the Front Man (played by Lee Byung Hun), Hwang said, “I’ve already conveyed all the messages I wanted to with the story. A follow-up wouldn’t hold much meaning. I’d want to tell something with a different tone.”
He pointed out an Easter egg: “In one scene, Director Choi (Jeon Seok Ho) searches Captain Park’s (Oh Dal Su) house, and you can see a photo on the wall of the recruiter (Gong Yoo) with others — including the Front Man. I snuck that in.”
“I started wondering, ‘When did they take that picture? Did they go fishing together at some point? What kind of relationship do they have in real life?’ It sparked the thought that telling the story of these characters — the recruiter, the Front Man, and the mysterious voice-only character — could be really fun.”
Hwang concluded, “Nothing is set in stone yet. But if I ever do make a spin-off, I’d like to do it just for the fun of it — without the pressure of sending a message. It’s too early to say definitively that I will or won’t do it, but maybe one day, if the opportunity comes, I’d like to give it a try.”
Source: (A)
