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If you’re sitting high on the board of directors for streaming service behemoth Netflix, then more than likely you’re taking the next few moves with the networks most watched series ever – that would be the subject of this article, South Korean “survive if you can” series Squid Game – very carefully indeed. After all, two other ratings juggernauts for the streamer, Stranger Things and Cobra Kai, are entering into their final seasons after which Squid Game will be one of the few remaining crown jewels in their pop culture crown. Yep, you don’t want to shake the apple tree too much and alienate viewers tuning in to check out a particular formula, so best to stick with what works and carefully cultivate and grow that already large audience into even bigger numbers. Of course, this being Netflix, they’re not only playing it safe with the Hwang Dong-hyuk-created series, they’re also making some interesting choices casting-wise for the eagerly anticipated second season.
From our The Deadliest Game pals over at The Hollywood Reporter comes the news today that Netflix has announced a slew of new cast members for the sophomore season of Squid Game.
A quick recap for anyone that may not as of yet checked out one of the most fun shows on streaming or network television: Squid Game posits a world where there is a top-secret contest where those in dire financial straits can participate in order to possibly win a $35 million dollar prize. The one catch if you happen to lose said game? How about a painful tango with Mr. Death with no hopes of a consolation prize in the form of a toaster or new microwave oven? Think of it as The Running Man without Schwarzenegger or Richard Dawson and you might get an idea about the spirit and theme of the series.
New cast members were announced Saturday at the fan fest known far and wide as Tumdum for Squid Game. They are, in no particular order: Im Siwan of K-pop group ZE:A fame, Kang Ha Neul (Midnight Runners, When the Camellia Blooms), Yang Dong Geun (Connect) and Park Sung Hoon (The Glory). They’ll be joining returning survivors Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-Hun, Wi Ha-joon and Gong Yoo. Anyone else getting A Nightmare On Elm street III: Dream Warriors vibe with this impending season?
As far as a premiere date for the new season, we all might have a bit of a wait on our hands: Partly due to the ongoing WGA strike which has shut down a wide swath of film and television productions, Squid Game season 2 won’t land on our respective TV sets until sometime in 2024. That’s the bad news. The good? Well, series creator and freshly-minted Emmy winner Hwang Dong-hyuk will be returning to write and direct all of the new episodes of the show. For those that enjoy their ongoing shows with a little consistency, this is good news indeed.
Still have a hankering to check out some form of Squid Game? Then get set to check out the reality series (yes Dear and Constant Reader, a reality series) spinoff which is entitled Squid Game: The Challenge which is set to drop on Netflix this November. We have a handy-dandy link right here for that unlikely iteration and hopefully that will tide you over until next year; Excelsior, True Believers!
