Get ready for a wild ride! Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk and star Lee Jung-jae recently spilled the tea on the highly anticipated second season at an FYC event in Los Angeles, and it sounds like we’re in for a treat.
Three years after Squid Game took the world by storm, becoming Netflix’s most-watched show ever, Gi-hun is back. But this time, he’s not just playing for money. Hwang, who snagged an Emmy for directing the show’s first season, revealed that Gi-hun’s journey in season two is driven by a burning desire for revenge against the shadowy organization behind the deadly games.
“I did have something in mind that if there were to ever be a second season, I had this idea of what story I would tell; I thought it would be the story of Gi-hun turning away from where he was at the end of season one and going back into the games in order to put a stop to the game,” Hwang explained.
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He went on to say that this quest for justice will be a major focus throughout seasons two and three, taking viewers on a rollercoaster ride with Gi-hun as he faces both physical and emotional challenges.
Lee, who also won an Emmy for his portrayal of the troubled protagonist, shared his initial reaction to reading the scripts for the new season: “This is immaculate, there’s absolutely nothing that needs to be changed… This man’s a genius.”
Clearly, Hwang’s writing has impressed both critics and his leading man.
Returning to the set where so many characters met their demise, Lee admitted to feeling a chilling sense of déjà vu. He described the experience as “so strange,” almost as if he was being “pulled back to hell.” The memories of his fallen comrades from season one came flooding back, creating an eerie atmosphere on set.
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“It was almost like I was being pulled back to hell. And I think I could truly feel what the director had intended for me and my character, where, the moment I stepped onto the set, I felt like I really wish more people would make it out alive this time.”
This time around, Gi-hun will be facing a whole new cast of characters, each with their own motivations and desperation. Hwang hinted that the new season will delve deeper into the psychological impact of the games on its participants, particularly on Gi-hun, who is still reeling from the trauma of the first season.
“Gi-hun has experienced too many things, witnessed too many deaths, for him to return to the way it was before, no matter how hard he tries.”
While season two promises to be an intense and emotional journey, fans can also look forward to a satisfying conclusion in the upcoming third season, set to release in 2025. Hwang shared that he views the third season as the natural end to Gi-hun’s story, allowing him to bring the Squid Game saga to a close.
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But before we bid farewell to this gripping world, we have the “crazy” second season to look forward to. Premiering on December 26th, it’s sure to be packed with shocking twists, heartbreaking losses, and nail-biting suspense. Get ready to dive back into the games!
