Whether you thought Squid Game was a thinly guised allegory of how late-stage capitalism will eventually kill us all for kicks, or just a silly-but-gripping tale of childhood games taken to sadistic extremes, there was only one Netflix show that we were all talking about back in September 2021.
Squid Game became Netflix's most-watched series – smashing Bridgerton’s previous record – in 94 countries, attracting more than 142 million member households in its first four weeks, as people tuned in to see just how dark the Korean series would get.
Next came the (thankfully, murder-free) reality TV competition, drawn from creator and showrunner Hwang Dong-hyuk’s original concept. But while Squid Game: The Challenge was entertaining enough, it wasn’t quite enough for fans clamouring for more.
The good news is there will be a return for our now red-haired champion, Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, and here’s everything you need to know about the (redlight) greenlit sequel series:
When is Squid Game series 2 out?
Season two was announced back in June 2022:
Filming took place in 2023, so go-time for our next round of contestants in the world’s most brutal games is looking pretty imminent. The exact date is still TBC, although it’s looking likely that it will be in the second half of 2024.
Who’s in Squid Game series 2?
Well, we can tell you who’s not in the sequel series – every other contestant of the 456, apart from Seong Gi-hun, as (*spoiler* if you’ve still not seen it): they’re all dead.
But making a return will also be the police detective Jun-ho, played by Wi Ha-jun. There have been announcements of new cast members – who have been cast from across South Korea’s entertainment industry – Park Gyu-young, singer Jo Yu-ri, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Lee Jin-uk, rapper Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, and Won Ji-an.
What happens in Squid Game series 2?
Gi-Hun might have triumphed in the game, but it’s not over yet, and it appears that he’ll be on an altruistic mission for the second series. After all, in the final episode of the first series we saw him failing to board a plane for LA after seeing the game recruiter playing cards with a new target, which told him Squid Game was still on-going, despite the creator's death.
Speaking with Associated Press, Hwang Dong-hyuk has confirmed that “Gi-Hun will come back, and he will do something for the world”. The creator then compared it to Star Wars and explained: “I would think that in the second season, what he has learned from the games and his experience in the first season, they will all be put to use in a more active manner. And at the same time, as for the Front Man who was also a past winner but became a Front Man, it's like Darth Vader. Some end up Jedi and some become Darth Vader, right?.”
He also expressed regret at killing off some of the fan favourites in the debut series, though with good reason, telling Reuters: “I want to revive Ji-young, but her best friend Sae-byeok also died, so I'm thinking what to do. So many characters died, especially beloved ones died. I'm sorry I killed them so easily; I didn't know this [a second series] was coming.”
It’s also likely we’ll learn more about the mysterious Front Man, and his policeman brother Jun-ho, as well as the background of the salesman character (played by Gong Yoo).
Hwang said: “I think the issue with police officers is not just an issue in Korea. I see it on the global news that the police force can be very late in acting on things—there are more victims or a situation gets worse because of them not acting fast enough. This was an issue that I wanted to raise.”
And let’s not forget that we’re going to become acquainted with another killer doll too. Hwang previously teased that “we'll also be introduced to Young-hee's boyfriend, Cheol-su.”
Where can I watch Squid Game series 2?
On Netflix, of course. Given it was one of the streamer’s biggest ever hits, they’re unlikely to give this series up anytime soon, and we imagine we’ll be in for further follow-up series in due course.
