Directing Netflix’s global sensation Squid Game came at a heavy personal cost for creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, who reportedly lost eight or nine teeth due to the physical and mental toll of producing the debut season. The South Korean director recently shared the intense demands of directing the survival thriller, which became Netflix’s most-watched show in 2021, amassing over 1.65 billion viewing hours in its first 28 days.
Hwang revealed to the BBC that he constantly revised episodes during production, intensifying the workload. He even initially resisted producing a second season due to the toll the first had taken on his health. However, financial motivations and an unfinished narrative drew him back to the project. “Even though the first series was a huge global success, honestly I didn’t make much,” Hwang admitted. “So doing the second series will help compensate me for the success of the first one.”
The show’s narrative, inspired by Hwang’s own struggles after South Korea’s 2009 economic crisis, follows cash-strapped contestants risking their lives in deadly childhood games to win a grand prize. Season 2 is set to premiere on Netflix on December 26, introducing new characters alongside Seong Gi-hun, portrayed by Lee Jung-jae, as he returns to try and dismantle the game once and for all.
Hwang confirmed that Squid Game will conclude with a third and final season in 2025, marking the end of a remarkable journey for the series. He stated, “With that story, I was able to tell everything I wanted through Squid Game.”
The series has garnered critical acclaim, becoming the first Korean show to receive multiple Emmy nominations in major categories, including Best Drama. Lee Jung-jae made history as the first Korean actor to win Best Actor in a Drama, while Hwang became the first Asian director to win Outstanding Drama for a non-English series.
In addition to the show’s upcoming second season, Netflix launched Squid Game: The Challenge, a spin-off reality competition featuring 456 contestants competing for a record-breaking $4.56 million prize. This reality series, inspired by the show’s iconic games, has generated significant interest as it brings Squid Game’s nail-biting competition to real life.
As Squid Game approaches its final chapters, it leaves behind an indelible mark on television history, breaking boundaries and redefining the global impact of Korean media on streaming platforms.
