Category: Squid Game

  • BTS member V undergoes incredible body transformation as rumors swirl that he’s joining Squid Game cast

    BTS member V undergoes incredible body transformation as rumors swirl that he’s joining Squid Game cast

    One of K-pop’s biggest stars has stunned fans with his body transformation. 

    BTS star Kim Taehyung, better known by his stage name V, has lost weight and packed on muscle since enlisting in the South Korean military in 2023.

    The singer, 29, recently revealed on WeVerse that he’s shed 10kg (22lbs), although he appears to have bulked up more than slimmed down. 

    In recent photos shared to both WeVerse and Instagram, the Dynamite hitmaker shows off his muscular arms while working out in the gym.

    The images sent K-pop fans into a frenzy, with one writing, ‘He’s doing his military service very well, his body is very good, getting bigger. I think he’s exercising well!’

    BTS member V undergoes incredible body transformation as rumors swirl that he’s joining Squid Game cast

    BTS star Kim Taehyung, better known by his stage name V, has lost weight and packed on muscle since enlisting in the South Korean military in 2023

    Another wrote, ‘He better not lose all this when he comes back!’

    Some fans online have speculated that Taehyung’s new look is for the third season of Squid Game.

    Some of the show’s stars have even been questioned about the rumors, but have refused to confirm or deny if Taehyung is joining the cast.

    Season two of the hit Netflix series featured several K-pop stars, including singer Jo Yuri and rapper T.O.P. 

    Last year, BTS member RM revealed that at times he wanted ‘to die’ due to the pressures of being the leader of the South Korean boyband.

    The music artist, 30, got candid about the expectations he has faced while talking to fellow member, Jimin.

    The chat was filmed shortly before RM began his military service in December 2023. 

    The 29-year-old shows off his slimmer frame in an old photo (pictured)

    The K-pop star now looks more muscular

    The 29-year-old now looks far more muscular (right) compared to a few years ago (left)

    Taehyung has been hitting the gym since enlisting in the military

     Taehyung has been hitting the gym since enlisting in the military

    During the discussion, which was released on the group’s main YouTube page on Friday, RM talked about his feelings towards being the leader of the band – which also consists of Jimin, V, Jin, Suga, J-Hope and Jungkook.

    ‘In our team, I’m the one who says all the right things, the nice things. I step up to represent the team,’ he explained. 

    ‘That’s what I always do. And people expect me to make speeches and do interviews,’ he continued, with Jimin adding, ‘In English.’

    RM said, ‘Right. And to speak out and things like that. But actually, you know me, so you know this, but I’m actually just an unimportant 29-year-old guy living in Korea. That’s who I am.’

    Some fans online have speculated that Taehyung's new look is for the third season of Squid Game

    Some fans online have speculated that Taehyung’s new look is for the third season of Squid Game

    Jimin cut in to respond with, ‘I get what you’re talking about,’ with the rapper adding, ‘I guess I couldn’t say I’m “average,” but I’m just a 29-year-old living a slightly different life from others.’

    ‘The same goes for you. You’re just a 28-year-old guy. But for the past ten years, we felt this burden.’

    ‘At some point, we just had to be conscientious and different,’ RM further expressed. ‘I love BTS because of our music.’

    He then revealed, however, that if he, ‘kept caring about what everyone else thought, If I kept going like this, I just…I felt like I would want to die.’

  • Squid Game star Park Sung-hoon comes under fire over pornographic post

    Squid Game star Park Sung-hoon comes under fire over pornographic post

    One of the stars of Netflix’s Squid Game is in hot water after he accidentally uploaded the DVD cover art of a Squid Game porn parody to social media.

    Park Sung-hoon, who plays the transgender character Hyun-ju in season two of the dystopian drama, caused an uproar in South Korea this week after he posted the cover art to his public Instagram page.

    The film, titled Squirt Game, is an X-rated parody of Squid Game from China, and it contains multiple explicit sex scenes – including simulated rape. 

    The 39-year-old immediately deleted the post and then had his management agency issue a public statement addressing the incident.

    ‘Actor Park accidentally posted the image, which he received in a direct message, by mistakenly pressing the wrong button,’ BH Entertainment said in a statement, according to Korea JoongAng Daily.

    The agency stated that Sung-hoon was ‘shocked’ by what had happened. 

    Squid Game star Park Sung-hoon comes under fire over pornographic post

    Squid Game season two star Park Sung-hoon is in hot water after he accidentally uploaded the DVD cover art of Squid Game porn parody to social media this week

    The 39-year-old plays the transgender character Hyun-ju in season two of the dystopian drama

    The 39-year-old plays the transgender character Hyun-ju in season two of the dystopian drama

    ‘He is deeply sorry for making such a mistake in these circumstances and promises to be especially careful to ensure it doesn’t happen again,’ they added.

    The incident has sparked widespread backlash in his home country South Korea, especially due to the extreme nature of the film.

    Over the last few years, Sung-hoon has become an A-list star in the country thanks to roles in Korean dramas like The Glory and Memorials.

    Earlier this year, he acted in the melodrama Queen of Tears, which is currently the most-watched Korean series on Netflix this year.

    His next role will be in the romantic comedy series The Tyrant’s Chef, alongside popular actress and K-pop star Im Yoona.

    The series will be directed by Jang Tae-yoo, who was behind one of the most successful Korean dramas of all time, My Love from the Star.

    However, due to his current scandal, some fans in Korea are already threatening to boycott the series.

    Despite the controversy, Sung-hoon has received rave reviews for his portrayal of a transgender woman in Squid Game season two. 

    The film, titled Squirt Game, is an X-rated parody of Squid Game from China, and it contains multiple explicit sex scenes - including simulated rape

    The film, titled Squirt Game, is an X-rated parody of Squid Game from China, and it contains multiple explicit sex scenes – including simulated rape

    The new season sees Player 456 return to the game determined to save as many lives as possible, all while trying to uncover the secrets of the shadowy figures who created the game.

    While leading man Lee Jung-jae (who plays protagonist Seong Gi-hun in the series) is back, there’s also a number of new characters for viewers to get to know.

    In addition to esteemed South Korean actors like Sung-hoon and Lee Byung-hun, season two of the hit series features a number of K-pop stars.

    Squid Game’s first outing back in 2021 swiftly became Netflix’s biggest ever show and racked up a whopping 1.65 billion viewing hours.

  • Meet the famous K-pop stars featured in Squid Game’s second season

    Meet the famous K-pop stars featured in Squid Game’s second season

    The long-awaited second season of the dystopian South Korean thriller Squid Game finally hit Netflix this week.

    Season two sees Player 456 return to the game determined to save as many lives as possible, all while trying to uncover the secrets of the shadowy figures who created the game.

    While leading man Lee Jung-jae (who plays protagonist Seong Gi-hun in the series) is back, there’s also a number of new characters for viewers to get to know.

    In addition to esteemed South Korean actors like Park Sung-hoon and Lee Byung-hun, season two of the hit series features a number of K-pop stars.

    From a legendary rapper to a boy band star to a girl group member, the second instalment of Squid Game certainly isn’t short on musical talent. 

    Jo Yuri, who plays Player 222 Kim Jun-Hee, is already emerging as a breakout star this season.

    The 23-year-old first found fame on the reality TV competition series Idol School, which saw dozens of K-pop trainees competing to make it into a new girl group.

    She placed fifteenth on the show and missed out on making the final lineup, but she returned the following year to compete on Produce 48 – another girl group competition series featuring trainees from both Korea and Japan.

    Meet the famous K-pop stars featured in Squid Game’s second season

    The new season of Squid Game features multiple K-pop stars in acting roles, including Jo Yuri (pictured) who plays Player 222 Kim Jun-Hee

    This time, Yuri was able to rank in third place, snagging herself a coveted spot in the group IZ*ONE.

    The Korean-Japanese group became an overnight sensation and sold millions of record in Asia until disbanding in 2021, when their three-year recording contract expired.

    Yuri then launched a solo music career, releasing the singles Glassy, Loveable, and Taxi.

    Squid Game marks Yuri’s first major acting role following her successful music career.

    In the series, she portrays troubled Kim Jun-hee, who was forced into the game after trusting the wrong person.

    Discussing how she landed the coveted role in Netflix’s record-breaking series, Yuri told Teen Vogue that the audition process wasn’t easy. 

    ‘So, it was actually a very long audition process. I had to talk a lot with the director [Hwang Donghyuk] before I was officially cast,’ she explained. 

    ‘I think the whole audition process took about four or three months as a whole,’ she added.

    Yuri was a member of the best-selling girl group IZ*ONE, who sold millions of records across Japan and Korea during their three-year career

    Yuri was a member of the best-selling girl group IZ*ONE, who sold millions of records across Japan and Korea during their three-year career

    The 23-year-old launched a solo music career after her time in IZ*ONE came to an end

    The 23-year-old launched a solo music career after her time in IZ*ONE came to an end

    Also lighting up the small screen is Im Siwan, who plays Player 333, Myung-gi. 

    Siwan, 36, got his start in the K-pop industry as a member of the boy band ZE:A, who debuted back in 2010 with the single Mazeltov.

    The group released multiple singles and albums but were never able to hit the big time in the crowded and highly competitive K-pop scene. 

    Siwan made his acting debut in 2012 with a supporting role in the Korean drama Moon Embracing the Sun, which ended up becoming a ratings blockbuster across Asia. 

    The success of the series led to him landing bigger roles in a number of K-dramas and feature films, and his individual fame quickly surpassed his group’s popularity.

    Also lighting up the small screen is Im Siwan, who plays Player 333, Myung-gi

    Also lighting up the small screen is Im Siwan, who plays Player 333, Myung-gi

    Siwan, 36, got his start in the K-pop industry as a member of the boy band ZE:A, who debuted back in 2010 with the single Mazeltov

    Siwan, 36, got his start in the K-pop industry as a member of the boy band ZE:A, who debuted back in 2010 with the single Mazeltov

    In Squid Game, Siwan’s character is a cryptocurrency influencer who makes a series of disastrous decisions that leave him with no choice but to compete in the deadly game to dig himself out of financial ruin. 

    The biggest K-pop star to grace Squid Game this season is rapper Choi Seung-hyun, better known by his stage name T.O.P.

    As a member of BIGBANG -South Korea’s most successful boy band of all time- T.O.P is considered K-pop royalty. 

    He plays retired rapper Thanos in the series, who leads a clique of Squid Game’s youngest players. 

    T.O.P has enjoyed a successful acting career for well over a decade at this point, most notably in the hit action series Iris and the Korean war film 71: Into the Fire.

    The biggest K-pop star to grace Squid Game this season is rapper Choi Seung-hyun, better known by his stage name T.O.P

    The biggest K-pop star to grace Squid Game this season is rapper Choi Seung-hyun, better known by his stage name T.O.P

    As a member of BIGBANG -South Korea's most successful boy band of all time- T.O.P is considered K-pop royalty

    As a member of BIGBANG -South Korea’s most successful boy band of all time- T.O.P is considered K-pop royalty

    Unfortunately, the group’s legacy has since been tarnished following member Seungri’s involvement in the Burning Sun rape scandal.

    Squid Game’s first outing back in 2021 swiftly became Netflix’s biggest ever show and racked up a whopping 1.65 billion viewing hours. 

    It followed the story Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) along with other people down on their luck faced a string of deadly children’s games, with many dying along the way, in a bid to win millions. 

    Season two sees Seong again returning to battle it out, however some critics have claimed the show has now ‘lost it’s edge’ while others declared it ‘utterly engaging’. 

  • Squid Game 2 reviews: Smash hit Netflix series divides critics who claim latest outing has ‘lost its edge’ and is a ‘thorough letdown’ – after fans slammed the ‘overhyped’ show

    Squid Game 2 reviews: Smash hit Netflix series divides critics who claim latest outing has ‘lost its edge’ and is a ‘thorough letdown’ – after fans slammed the ‘overhyped’ show

    Squid Game’s long awaited second series finally began streaming on Netflix on Thursday, however critics have been left divided by the latest installment of the dystopian drama.     

    The South Korean series’ first outing back in 2021 swiftly became the streaming service’s biggest ever show and racked up a whopping 1.65 billion viewing hours.

    It followed the story Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) along with other people down on their luck faced a string of deadly children’s games, with many dying along the way, in a bid to win the £24M prize fund.

    Series two sees Seong again retunring to battle it out, however some critics have claimed the show has now ‘lost it’s edge’ while others declared it ‘utterly engaging’.

    Daniel Feinberg wrote in The Hollywood Reporter: ‘The second season of Squid Game is a thorough letdown’.

    ‘It’s not a fundamental level on which Squid Game is broken, but season two simply doesn’t work’. 

    Squid Game 2 reviews: Smash hit Netflix series divides critics who claim latest outing has ‘lost its edge’ and is a ‘thorough letdown’ – after fans slammed the ‘overhyped’ show

    Squid Game ‘s long awaited second series finally began streaming on Netflix on Thursday, however critics have been left divided by the latest installment of the dystopian drama

    The South Korean series' first outing back in 2021 swiftly became the streaming service's biggest ever show and racked up a whopping 1.65 billion viewing hours

    The South Korean series’ first outing back in 2021 swiftly became the streaming service’s biggest ever show and racked up a whopping 1.65 billion viewing hours 

    It followed the story Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) along with other people down on their luck face a string of deadly children's games in a bid to win the £24M prize fund

    It followed the story Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) along with other people down on their luck face a string of deadly children’s games in a bid to win the £24M prize fund 

    Rebecca Nicholson said in her three-star review in The Guardian lamented the show’s pacing and wrote: ‘For the first three of these seven new episodes, it struggles to find its purpose’. 

    ‘For all of its unevenness, particularly as it is warming up to the proper action, there is one big twist that really works, though whether it is distinct enough from what happens in the first series is unclear’. 

    ‘And when you think you know where it is going, it turns away from its trajectory, upping the ante and finding its feet. What a shame it takes so long to get there though. Series three has some cleaning up to do’. 

    Collider’s Therese Lacson claimed the show was as subtle as a sledgehammer and wrote: ‘The downside of [series two] is that once we get to the actual arena, You can see the plot twists coming a mile away even when a new game is introduced  and if you don’t, the show flashes lights in your face to make sure you’re prepared for the incoming twist.

    ‘It often feels like the show is afraid its audience might not understand what is going on, so everything has to be spelled out’. 

    ‘By the time the season reaches its ending, it feels like a lot of time has been wasted on repetition. Especially since the final episode picks up and depicts something we haven’t seen before, more time could have been spent here rather than anywhere else’. 

    Meanwhile Ed Power wrote in his own three-star review for The Telegraph: ‘Squid Game 2 is the equivalent of a difficult second album from an overnight pop star. It has lots of what you loved about the first Squid Game, from 2021, but has little interest in surpassing, much less subverting, its predecessor’.

    ‘The cast is expanded, with Park Gyu Young as a traumatised North Korean woman and Park Sung-hoon as a transgender contestant. Yet despite these new additions, the series does not radically depart from the established formula’.

    Series two sees Seong returning to battle it out, however some critics have claimed the show has now 'lost it's edge' while others declared it 'utterly engaging'

    Series two sees Seong returning to battle it out, however some critics have claimed the show has now ‘lost it’s edge’ while others declared it ‘utterly engaging’ 

    Some lamended the show's lack of pacing and 'predictable' twists

    Some lamended the show’s lack of pacing and ‘predictable’ twists  

    ‘It skims the surface of the Squid Game world when you want it to dive deeper and show us something new. For all the mayhem and ultra-violence, Squid Game 2 plays it safe with a vengeance’.

    However in The Times Tim Glanfield was full of praise and declared the series ‘more complex nuanced’ than it’s first outing. 

    ‘The key to the success of this sensational return is the careful and thoughtful pacing, combined with hints of light within the gruesome shade’. 

    What was the greatest strength of the original show remains: humans compounding bad decisions, forging fragile alliances and desperate friendships only to see the tables dramatically turned. 

    Annabel Nugent also gave the show four stars in The Independent and wrote: ‘So, can Squid Game capture lightning in a bottle for a second time? Well, yes and no. It is impossible to replicate the shock of that first outing, and [creator] Hwang Dong Hyuk does well not to try’. 

    ‘Where the first series relied on shock for horror, each death landing like a brisk whack to the back of your head, season two derives terror from what we know as returning audiences, positioning Gi Hun once again as our surrogate. He also knows what comes next and yet even with that knowledge is powerless to stop it’. 

    Meanwhile  viewers flooded X with disappointed comments – complaining they ‘didn’t wait three years for this’.

    Meanwhile viewers flooded X with disappointed comments - complaining they 'didn't wait three years for this'

    Meanwhile viewers flooded X with disappointed comments – complaining they ‘didn’t wait three years for this’ 

    The bitter commentary was inevitably all over X

    The bitter commentary was inevitably all over X

    Fans unanimously branded it ‘boring’ and ‘predictable’ – while also moaning it lacked the show’s trademark nail-biting plot.

    Among the long list of complaints, people on the social media platform also raised there were barely any ‘new’ games, with some begging producers: ‘Don’t come back for a new season’.

    The bitter commentary was inevitably all over X – formerly Twitter – where viewers wrote: ‘#SquidGame2 is so underwhelming likeee WHAT WAS EVEN THAT its lowkey so messy and all over the place too many characters to the point idk who to focus on anymore + didnt even introduce them properly and the ending is S**T I didnt wait 2 years for this….’.

    ‘just finished season 2 THAT SHIT WAS TERRIBLE IM CRYING all of the elements from the first season GONE there’s no emotion, substance, and all the games had no thrill or stakes in it #SquidGame2’; 

    Squid Game 2: What are the critics saying?

    The Guardian

    Rating:

    ‘For the first three of these seven new episodes, it struggles to find its purpose’. 

    ‘For all of its unevenness, particularly as it is warming up to the proper action, there is one big twist that really works, though whether it is distinct enough from what happens in the first series is unclear’

    The Hollywood Reporter 

    ‘The second season of Squid Game is a thorough letdown’.

    ‘It’s not a fundamental level on which Squid Game is broken, but season two simply doesn’t work’. 

    The Telegraph

    Rating:

    ‘Squid Game 2 is the equivalent of a difficult second album from an overnight pop star. It has lots of what you loved about the first Squid Game, from 2021, but has little interest in surpassing, much less subverting, its predecessor’.

    ‘The cast is expanded, with Park Gyu Young as a traumatised North Korean woman and Park Sung-hoon as a transgender contestant. Yet despite these new additions, the series does not radically depart from the established formula’.

    The Times

    Rating:

    ‘The key to the success of this sensational return is the careful and thoughtful pacing, combined with hints of light within the gruesome shade’.

    ‘This is a story of revenge and redemption: more layered, more nuanced and more complex than the original series’. 

    Collider 

    ‘It often feels like the show is afraid its audience might not understand what is going on, so everything has to be spelled out’. 

    ‘By the time the season reaches its ending, it feels like a lot of time has been wasted on repetition. Especially since the final episode picks up and depicts something we haven’t seen before, more time could have been spent here rather than anywhere else’. 

    The Independent  

    Rating:

    ‘So, can Squid Game capture lightning in a bottle for a second time? Well, yes and no. It is impossible to replicate the shock of that first outing, and [creator] Hwang Dong Hyuk does well not to try’. 

    ‘Where the first series relied on shock for horror, each death landing like a brisk whack to the back of your head, season two derives terror from what we know as returning audiences, positioning Gi Hun once again as our surrogate. He also knows what comes next and yet even with that knowledge is powerless to stop it’. 

    BBC

    Rating:

    ‘While it’s a little long – at seven episodes, it’s two episodes shorter than the last series, but some of the repetitive voting and gun-fight scenes can drag – and the reveal of a double-crossing character felt obvious from the start, it’s a highly welcome return to this hellscape world’. 

    ‘The series ends abruptly; with both a cliffhanger and a flash of a mid-credits scene that sets things up for a third series, due out in 2025’.

  • Squid Game fever takes over Sydney ahead of season two premiere

    Squid Game fever takes over Sydney ahead of season two premiere

    Squid Game fever overtook Sydney on Thursday with over 300 red guards storming the city from the popular South Korean series. 

    The eerie convoy made a dramatic entrance on Sydney Harbour as they escorted the infamous doll from the series on a harbour barge. 

    The unsettling spectacular marked the arrival of Squid Game: The Experience, set to open at Luna Park on Saturday, December 14.

    It is just in time to stoke excitement ahead of the second season premiere.

    The gripping series follows a group of players competing in a fight-to-the-death competition in which one person will take home a huge sum of money – while everyone else dies. 

    Last month, the release date for season two was finally revealed as Netflix dropped a grisly new trailer. 

    Squid Game fever takes over Sydney ahead of season two premiere

    Squid Game fever overtook Sydney on Thursday with over 300 red guards storming the city from the popular South Korean series 

    The eerie convoy made a dramatic entrance on Sydney Harbour as they escorted the infamous doll from the series on a harbour barge

    The eerie convoy made a dramatic entrance on Sydney Harbour as they escorted the infamous doll from the series on a harbour barge 

    The unsettling spectacular marked the arrival of Squid Game: The Experience, set to open at Luna Park on Saturday, December 14

    The unsettling spectacular marked the arrival of Squid Game: The Experience, set to open at Luna Park on Saturday, December 14 

    Nearly three years after the series took the world by storm, the streaming giant has revealed the show will return globally on Boxing Day.   

    In the new trailer, a new group of recruits are seen, with a guard extending a ‘heartfelt welcome’, before panning to a familiar face – Hero Gi-hun, who has returned as Player 456.

    The trailer then shows one of the original challenges and Gi-hun taking control and trying to guide the fellow competitors through trials.

    But trouble soon erupts as fellow players accuse him of working for the games master.

    It is just in time to stoke excitement ahead of the second season premiere

    It is just in time to stoke excitement ahead of the second season premiere 

    The gripping series follows a group of players competing in a fight-to-the-death competition in which one person will take home a huge sum of money - while everyone else dies

    The gripping series follows a group of players competing in a fight-to-the-death competition in which one person will take home a huge sum of money – while everyone else dies 

    And, as the guards watch on, the mastermind behind Squid Game watches over the players, who panic and fight among themselves.

    The trailer then shows a series of gruesome murders, brawls, gun fights and terrifying games, ending with Gi-hun sweaty and panting in the dark.

    A synopsis of season two revealed: ‘Gi-hun once again dives into the mysterious survival game, starting another life-or-death game with new participants gathered to win the prize of 45.6 billion won.’ 

    Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who made history at the 74th Primetime Emmys as the first Asian to win Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, returns to the series as writer and director.

    Season one of Squid Games earned 14 Emmy Awards nominations and it won six prizes including Best Drama actor, Best Drama Guest Actress, Best Drama Directing as well as awards for production design and visual effects.

  • Squid Games creator admits he made hardly any money from the first series despite the show being Netflix’s biggest ever hit

    Squid Games creator admits he made hardly any money from the first series despite the show being Netflix’s biggest ever hit

    Squid Game director and creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has revealed he made very little money from the first series of the hit Netflix show. 

    Despite the South Korean drama being the biggest ever show on the streaming platform, Hwang has now said he is excited for the second series to hopefully see a bigger  paycheck.

    Speaking to Radio Times, Hwang, who lost his father at a young age, opened up about growing up experiencing ‘being poor and having a tough time making ends meet.’

    Laughing when asked about his motivations for creating a second series of his hit show, he said: ‘Money! Although the first season was such a huge global success, I honestly didn’t make much. So doing the second season will help compensate me for the success of the first one. 

    ‘The biggest surprise for me was just how far and fast the show has reached all over the world. Despite the fact that this is a series that kids cannot watch.’

    ‘Back when I was working on season one, honestly, I didn’t have any thoughts about being able to do a second or if there would be a sequel at all. And so I went into it thinking that I would be happy if the story ended with the last scene of season one.’

    Squid Games creator admits he made hardly any money from the first series despite the show being Netflix’s biggest ever hit

    Squid Game director and creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has revealed he made no money from the first series of the hit Netflix show

    Despite the South Korean drama being the biggest ever show on the streaming platform, Hwang has now said he is excited for the second series to hopefully see a paycheck

    Despite the South Korean drama being the biggest ever show on the streaming platform, Hwang has now said he is excited for the second series to hopefully see a paycheck

    Hwang added that he has been ‘working non-stop’ to create the second series and to make it a huge success like the first. 

    He added: ‘Our family was not the most well off, to say the least. My mother had to go through a lot in order to bring her children up. And I think I can safely say that I had a lot of experience with being poor and having a tough time making ends meet.’

    It comes after Squid Games fans were all left on the same page after Netflix dropped the main trailer for season two of the dystopian thriller. 

    The trailer begins with a new set of players being recruited for the twisted game before the winner of the last Squid Game Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, appears on screen.

    In the back of a car, Gi-hun sits face to face with a gold speaker shaped like a pig as it eerily asks him: ‘Player 456. What do you want from me?’

    To which he replies: ‘Put me back in the game.’ 

    As the new game commences, we see the fresh faces of excited new players which bare a stark difference to the worn and vengeful face of Gi-hun.

    One contestant asks Gi-hun why he came back and he tells him: ‘I’m trying to put an end to this game.’

    Speaking to Radio Times , Hwang, who lost his father at a young age, opened up about growing up experiencing 'being poor and having a tough time making ends meet'

    Speaking to Radio Times , Hwang, who lost his father at a young age, opened up about growing up experiencing ‘being poor and having a tough time making ends meet’

    Laughing, he said: 'Money! Although the first season was such a huge global success, I honestly didn't make much. So doing the second season will help compensate me for the success of the first one'

    Laughing, he said: ‘Money! Although the first season was such a huge global success, I honestly didn’t make much. So doing the second season will help compensate me for the success of the first one’

    It comes after Squid Game fans are all on the same page after Netflix dropped the main trailer for season two of the hit K-drama

    It comes after Squid Game fans are all on the same page after Netflix dropped the main trailer for season two of the hit K-drama

    He appears to take on a leadership role in the game and tells the other players: ‘Those who created this game… we should fight them.’

    Some fans have noticed that a character who was understood to have died in season one has returned.

    Jun-ho, played by Wi Ha-jun, was the determined police officer hell-bent on finding his brother, In-ho, and exposing the games to the authorities.

    He was presumed dead in episode eight when he fell off a cliff after being shot in the shoulder by his brother when he discovered that his missing sibling was in fact the game’s masked Front Man.

    However, Jun-ho can be seen in the trailer, crouched down with his a gun at the ready in a forest with other officers.

    In one eerie clip, he tricks one of the game’s masked henchmen by playing dead but as the worker checks his pulse, Gi-hun snaps his eyes open.

    But fans found one particular part of the trailer to be especially ‘chilling’.

    In what looks like the beginning of a powerful uprising, the players chant: ‘One more game!’ 

    Fans who have been anticipating the second season since the success of the first almost three years ago couldn’t wait to discuss their thoughts on the trailer in the YouTube comment section.

    One wrote: ‘The “ONE MORE GAME!” chant has given me chills even after one watch of the trailer. 

    In the back of a car, Gi-hun sits face to face with a gold speaker shaped like a pig as it eerily asks him: 'Player 456. What do you want from me?'

    In the back of a car, Gi-hun sits face to face with a gold speaker shaped like a pig as it eerily asks him: ‘Player 456. What do you want from me?’

    He appears to take on a leadership role in the game and tells the other players: 'Those who created this game... we should fight them'

    He appears to take on a leadership role in the game and tells the other players: ‘Those who created this game… we should fight them’

    One contestant asks Gi-hun why he came back and he tells him: 'I'm trying to put an end to this game'

    One contestant asks Gi-hun why he came back and he tells him: ‘I’m trying to put an end to this game’

    As the new game commences, we see the fresh faces of excited new players which bare a stark difference to the worn and vengeful face of Gi-hun

    As the new game commences, we see the fresh faces of excited new players which bare a stark difference to the worn and vengeful face of Gi-hun

    Read the full interview in the Radio Times Christmas issue - on sale now

    Read the full interview in the Radio Times Christmas issue – on sale now

    ‘It made me realise that Gi-hun is a gambling addict and it’s why he was invited to play before since he was a nobody. 

    ‘Now he’s not here because he wishes to win the prize, he wants to help the people struggling who were in a status similar to his.’

    A second fan agreed, writing: ‘The “ONE MORE GAME!” part from the trailers always give me chills.’

    ‘Season two is going to be awesome! So hyped for it,’ another commented.

    A fourth said: ‘So hyped for another season of Squid Game! Really curious how this will go. 

    ‘And it looks like Gi Hun is out there to actually stop the entire mysterious organization of the game! 

    ‘We will see way more action as well which is great! So excited for this one and can’t wait to see it in December! Will be a great time during the Christmas break!’

    Squid Game Season 2 premieres globally on Netflix on December 26.

  • Netflix Sued Over Squid Game Allegations

    Netflix Sued Over Squid Game Allegations

    Netflix has been sued over Squid Game by actor and producer, Sohum Shah – as he claims the streaming site stole the plot line from his 2009 film titled, Luck. 

    The South Korean dystopian series first aired in 2021 – and has since become Netflix’s most-watched show. A second season is slated to premiere later this year on December 26. 

    However, in a lawsuit obtained by TMZ on Friday, Shah claimed that the streaming site took the premise from his Hindi-language action thriller – which he both wrote and directed. 

    The premise of Luck is: ‘An underworld kingpin recruits people endowed with “Luck” from across the globe to take part in a series of challenges designed to test their “Luck” factor, as gamblers around the world bet on them,’ per an IMDB synopsis.  

    Similar to Squid Game, ‘desperate’ characters agree to complete in the game, but losing a challenge results in death – which also increases the amount of money that could be won at the end of the competition for those still alive. 

    Netflix Sued Over Squid Game Allegations

    Netflix has been sued over Squid Game by actor and producer, Sohum Shah, as he claims the streaming site stole the plot line from his 2009 film titled, Luck; the series seen above in 2021 

    Rich ‘gamblers’ watch the contestants compete in grueling games – also like the Netflix show. 

    Shah claimed in the lawsuit that he wrote the screenplay for Luck in 2006, and the movie was later released in theaters in 2009 in countries such as India, the United States, the U.K. and the UAE. 

    Sohum also claimed that the writer of Squid Game, Hwang Dong-hyuk, said he wrote the show in 2009 – the same year Luck was officially released. 

    Along with Netflix, Shah is also suing Dong-hyuk. 

    In the lawsuit, the producer stated that the streaming site would have been able to see Luck when it was first released due to having ‘considerable advertising and marketing.’

    Following the global success of Squid Game, Netflix raked in around a whopping $900 million increase in market value. 

    Shah reportedly is requesting for a portion of the value – and is also aiming to prevent the streaming site from ‘infringing’ on his copyright to Luck, per TMZ. 

    Squid Game aired in September 2021 on Netflix, and along with becoming the streaming site’s most-watched show, the series notably garnered 1.65 billion viewing hours in just the first four weeks alone. 

    However, in a lawsuit obtained by TMZ on Friday, Shah claimed that the streaming site took the premise from his Hindi-language action thriller - which he both wrote and directed

    However, in a lawsuit obtained by TMZ on Friday, Shah claimed that the streaming site took the premise from his Hindi-language action thriller – which he both wrote and directed

    Sohum also claimed that the writer of Squid Game, Hwang Dong-hyuk, had said he wrote the show in 2009 - the same year Luck was officially released. Along with Netflix, Shah is also suing Dong-hyuk; seen in 2012 in Toronto

    Sohum also claimed that the writer of Squid Game, Hwang Dong-hyuk, had said he wrote the show in 2009 – the same year Luck was officially released. Along with Netflix, Shah is also suing Dong-hyuk; seen in 2012 in Toronto 

    Also in the lawsuit, the producer stated that the streaming site would have been able to see Luck when it was first released due to having 'considerable advertising and marketing'

    Also in the lawsuit, the producer stated that the streaming site would have been able to see Luck when it was first released due to having ‘considerable advertising and marketing’

    The premise is: ‘Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children’s games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits with deadly high stakes: a survival game that has a whopping 45.6 billion-won prize at stake,’ per IMDB.  

    The series also raked in numerous awards after receiving positive reception from both critics and fans. 

    Squid Game received three Golden Globe nominations – with O Yeong-su winning for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series. 

    The show also garnered four SAG nods, winning three: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series and Outstanding Stunt Ensemble in a TV series. 

    Other awards that Squid Game also earned included two Emmys, two Critics’ Choice Television Awards as well as one People’s Choice Awards. 

    The show has been renewed for two additional seasons, with the second slated to air on December 26 of this year. 

    The third and final season doesn’t have a set release date – but is projected to premiere sometime in 2025. 

    Netflix co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, paid a visit to the set of Squid Game amid its season two production in South Korea earlier this year. 

    Sarandos expressed in a statement shared to Netflix’s website which read: ‘I couldn’t visit Korea without experiencing the production of one of our most anticipated shows of 2024 – the second season of Squid Game.’ 

    The show has been renewed for two additional seasons, with the second slated to air on December 26 of this year

    The show has been renewed for two additional seasons, with the second slated to air on December 26 of this year

    He continued, ‘While I can’t share any spoilers, I can say the new games will blow your mind, and I was thrilled by the scale of the sets.’ 

    ‘Director Hwang’s vision is such a powerful example of how Korean – and non-English titles – can be locally authentic while finding new international audiences on Netflix.’ 

    Ted added, ‘It was also my honor to meet President Yoon, together with Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae, to reaffirm our commitment to the industry and to the next generation of Korean creatives.’

    ‘We are investing significantly in Korea, and believe that working with best-in-class local industry partners is only the beginning…’ 

  • Squid Game 2: Major Character Teased in New Trailer

    Squid Game 2: Major Character Teased in New Trailer

    A teaser for Squid Game series 2 dropped on Sunday and left fans of the South Korean dystopian drama questioning a major character. 

    Netflix announced that the next instalment will debut on December 26, and also that the third and final season will arrive in 2025. 

    The new clip sees the return of protagonist Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, the sole survivor of the original game, who hoped that winning would  turn his life around for his daughter. 

    While he ultimately comes out victorious, he emerges traumatised from everything he’s seen and done, and vows to find those running the game.

    And while fans were elated with the news of Squid Game’s return, many were left theorising what could happen next. 

    Squid Game 2: Major Character Teased in New Trailer

    A teaser for Squid Game series 2 dropped on Sunday and left fans of the South Korean dystopian drama questioning a major character

    The new clip sees the return of protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) the sole survivor of the original game, who hoped that winning would turn his life around for his daughter

    The new clip sees the return of protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) the sole survivor of the original game, who hoped that winning would turn his life around for his daughter

    One viewer shared: ‘Let’s think about this he’s either still a detective and gone in to try save everyone or he could of been like the old man a VIP but he’s there to act like a Participant.’

    Others added: ‘So he returned to kill off even more people?’; ‘Gi-Hun goes back to the games: first was for survival, now is for revenge’; ‘Imagine going back for revenge and dies mid series’; ”When a funny guy become serious, everything gonna unforgettable.’

    ‘What do you think Gi-hun is going to do? Play again? Infiltrate and destroy the games?’; ‘I’m going for controversy. Gi-hun will take over the games as the leader. He will replace the old man.’

    Another theorised: ‘Calling it now Gi-hun actually does go to America to see his daughter but ends up getting tangled up in the American Squid Games maybe??’

    The first season launched in mid-September 2021 and became a global sensation, along with Netflix’s biggest show in the streamer’s history. 

    Reprising their roles from the first season, Lee Byung-hun will play Front Man, while Wi Ha-jun will portray Jun-ho and Gong Yoo will play the Salesman.

    New addition to the cast for the show’s second season will include Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-Neul, Park Sung-hoon and Yang Dong-geun, Park Gyu-young, Jo Yu-ri, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Lee Jin-uk, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won and Won Ji-an.

    Hwang Dong-hyuk will serve as a director and executive producer on the show’s second season, which is slated to begin production later this year.

     The series is Squid Game, the global sensation from Korea that became Netflix’s most-watched show in history back in 2021.

    While he ultimately comes out victorious, he emerges traumatised from everything he's seen and done, and vows to find those running the game

    While he ultimately comes out victorious, he emerges traumatised from everything he’s seen and done, and vows to find those running the game

    And while fans were elated with the news of Squid Game's return, many were left theorising what could happen next

    And while fans were elated with the news of Squid Game’s return, many were left theorising what could happen next

    Netflix released a new trailer on Wednesday, which not only confirmed that Season 2 will debut on Thursday, December 26, but also that there is a third and final season.

    The streaming service didn’t give an exact date for the final season, but confirmed it will debut sometime in 2025.

    The show amassed over 1.65 billion global viewing hours in the first 28 days and became the first show ever to have been watched by over 100 million Netflix accounts (111 million) in that time frame.

    The series follows a secret contest where 456 people in dire financial straits are brought to play a game that could make them incredibly wealthy.

    The series is Squid Game , the global sensation from Korea that became Netflix's most-watched show in history back in 2021

    The series is Squid Game , the global sensation from Korea that became Netflix’s most-watched show in history back in 2021

    The series follows a secret contest where 456 people in dire financial straits are brought to play a game that could make them incredibly wealthy

    The series follows a secret contest where 456 people in dire financial straits are brought to play a game that could make them incredibly wealthy

  • Netflix Confirms Return of Global Sensation Later This Year

    Netflix Confirms Return of Global Sensation Later This Year

    Netflix has made fans very happy on Wednesday, confirming the return of a massively popular series.

    The streaming service renewed the series for another season back in June 2022, after the first season set several viewership records.

    Still, news on the second season has been scant since then, though Netflix gave fans quite the surprise on Thursday.

    Not only did they reveal the date for Season 2, but also revealed that a third and final season will arrive in 2025.

    Since the Wednesday announcement, fans have been expressing their excitement on social media. 

    Netflix Confirms Return of Global Sensation Later This Year

    Netflix has made fans very happy on Wednesday, confirming the return of a massively popular series

    Still, news on the second season has been scant since then, though Netflix gave fans quite the surprise on Thursday.

    Still, news on the second season has been scant since then, though Netflix gave fans quite the surprise on Thursday.

    The series is Squid Game, the global sensation from Korea that became Netflix’s most-watched show in history back in 2021.

    Netflix released a new trailer on Wednesday, which not only confirmed that Season 2 will debut on Thursday, December 26, but also that there is a third and final season.

    The streaming service didn’t give an exact date for the final season, but confirmed it will debut sometime in 2025.

    The show amassed over 1.65 billion global viewing hours in the first 28 days and became the first show ever to have been watched by over 100 million Netflix accounts (111 million) in that time frame.

    The series follows a secret contest where 456 people in dire financial straits are brought to play a game that could make them incredibly wealthy.

    They soon find out how deadly the game really is, with familiar Korean childhood games given deadly twists, with each death contributing to the growing pool… with the last person standing to win it tall.

    The first season centered on divorced gambling addict Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who tries to turn things around to make life better for his daughter.

    He ultimately comes out victorious, but emerges traumatized from everything he’s seen and done, and vowed to find those running the game at the end of Season 1.

    The series is Squid Game , the global sensation from Korea that became Netflix's most-watched show in history back in 2021

    The series is Squid Game , the global sensation from Korea that became Netflix’s most-watched show in history back in 2021

    Netflix released a new trailer on Wednesday, which not only confirmed that Season 2 will debut on Thursday, December 26, but also that there is a third and final season

    Netflix released a new trailer on Wednesday, which not only confirmed that Season 2 will debut on Thursday, December 26, but also that there is a third and final season

    The series follows a secret contest where 456 people in dire financial straits are brought to play a game that could make them incredibly wealthy

    The series follows a secret contest where 456 people in dire financial straits are brought to play a game that could make them incredibly wealthy

    Lee Jung-jae will return alongside Lee Byung-hun as Front Man, Gong Yoo as The Recruiter (who lured Gi-hun in with a game of Ddakji) and Wi Ha-joon as Detective Hwang Jun-ho for Season 2.

    Jun-ho was shot by Front Man – who turned out to be his long-missing brother – at the end of Season 1, and he fell off a cliff, leaving his fate uncertain, though it seems he somehow survived that fall.

    Fans flocked to social media on Wednesday to express their excitement for the two new seasons of the hit series.

    @thirutamil07 said, ‘Can’t wait’ with an eye hearts emoji and ‘LETSS GOOO’ in two separate tweets. 

    @RichestBabalabo said, ‘Is this reallll’ with several different emojis in a tweet.

    @TheSonOfWalkley added, ‘Can’t wait!!!’ in another tweet’ while @LosInvestor added, ‘Yesss’ and ‘Let’s go’ in two separate tweets. 

    @Aladin_Austin added, ‘I’m so excited right now,’ while @TheRyanHorton said, ‘I look forward to this and I am happy they have already set a final season.’

    ‘No dragging along we know it will finish at Season 3,’ @TheRyanHorton added in his original tweet. 

    @thirutamil07 said, 'Can't wait' with an eye hearts emoji and 'LETSS GOOO' in two separate tweets

    @thirutamil07 said, ‘Can’t wait’ with an eye hearts emoji and ‘LETSS GOOO’ in two separate tweets

    @RichestBabalabo said, 'Is this reallll' with several different emojis in a tweet

    @RichestBabalabo said, ‘Is this reallll’ with several different emojis in a tweet

    @Aladin_Austin added, 'I'm so excited right now,' while @TheRyanHorton said, 'I look forward to this and I am happy they have already set a final season.'

    @Aladin_Austin added, ‘I’m so excited right now,’ while @TheRyanHorton said, ‘I look forward to this and I am happy they have already set a final season.’

    @oldemidepaige added, 'Can't wait actually' while @BTSProject25 added, 'I might get Netflix for this again.

    @oldemidepaige added, ‘Can’t wait actually’ while @BTSProject25 added, ‘I might get Netflix for this again.

    @olivia19766767 added, 'Squid Game is first season is the best ever'

    @olivia19766767 added, ‘Squid Game is first season is the best ever’

    @oldemidepaige added, ‘Can’t wait actually’ while @BTSProject25 added, ‘I might get Netflix for this again.

    @olivia19766767 added, ‘Squid Game is first season is the best ever.’

    Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk – who wrote and directed all 10 episodes – also shared a letter to the fans in a Netflix press release.

    ‘It’s been almost three years since Season 1 was met with incredible response around the world and many unimaginable events took place. I am beyond excited to be writing this letter to announce the date for Season 2 and share the news of Season 3, the final season,’ he began.

    ‘On the first day we began shooting Season 2, I remember thinking, “Wow, I can’t believe I’m back in the world of Squid Game.” It almost felt surreal. I wonder how it will feel for you to be back in Squid Game after three years, as well,’ he added.

    ‘Seong Gi-hun who vowed revenge at the end of Season 1 returns and joins the game again. Will he succeed in getting his revenge? Front Man doesn’t seem to be an easy opponent this time either. The fierce clash between their two worlds will continue into the series finale with Season 3, which will be brought to you next year,’ he continued.

    ‘I am thrilled to see the seed that was planted in creating a new Squid Game grow and bear fruit through the end of this story,’ Dong-hyuk added.

    ‘We’ll do our best to make sure we bring you yet another thrill ride. I hope you’re excited for what’s to come. Thank you, always, and see you soon, everyone,’ he concluded.

  • Squid Game Season 3 to End as Season 2 Premieres on Netflix

    Squid Game Season 3 to End as Season 2 Premieres on Netflix

    Nearly three years after Squid Game took the world by storm on Netflix, the show has revealed when the next two seasons will be released, with a much shorter wait.

    Netflix announced on Wednesday that Season 2 will debut on Thursday, December 26, and also that the third and final season will arrive in 2025.

    The first season launched in mid-September 2021 and became a global sensation, along with Netflix’s biggest show in the streamer’s history.

    The show has amassed over 1.65 billion global viewing hours in the first 28 days and became the first show ever to have been watched by over 100 million Netflix accounts (111 million) in that time frame, and also spawned the reality competition series Squid Game: The Challenge.

    The streaming service has also released a brief Olympics-themed teaser, that shows a seemingly normal race that goes awry.

    Squid Game Season 3 to End as Season 2 Premieres on Netflix

    Nearly three years after Squid Game took the world by storm on Netflix , the show has revealed when the next two seasons will be released, with a much shorter wait

    The first season launched in mid-September 2021 and became a global sensation, along with Netflix's biggest show in the streamer's history

    The first season launched in mid-September 2021 and became a global sensation, along with Netflix’s biggest show in the streamer’s history

    The trailer shows a number of track and field competitors lining up at the blocks for a race, which begins with the firing of the starter pistol.

    The competitors all take off running… but soon they’re overcome by the familiar green jumpsuits of the Squid Game competitors.

    The racers fall back as some of the Squid Game competitors fall to the ground while others keep running before we see a small podium with the mysterious character known only as Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who oversees Squid Game.

    While the competitors keep running chaotically, Front Man – flanked on each side by four of his pink-suited cronies in the trailer.

    Front Man says in Korean, ‘It’s been three years. Do you want to play again?’ with the trailer ending with the release date announcement.

    The series follows a secret contest where 456 people in dire financial straits are brought to play a game that could make them incredibly wealthy.

    They soon find out how deadly the game really is, with familiar Korean childhood games given deadly twists, with each death contributing to the growing pool… with the last person standing to win it tall.

    The first season centered on divorced gambling addict Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who tries to turn things around to make life better for his daughter.

    The first season launched in mid-September 2021 and became a global sensation, along with Netflix's biggest show in the streamer's history

    The first season launched in mid-September 2021 and became a global sensation, along with Netflix’s biggest show in the streamer’s history

    While the competitors keep running chaotically, Front Man - flanked on each side by four of his pink-suited cronies in the trailer

    While the competitors keep running chaotically, Front Man – flanked on each side by four of his pink-suited cronies in the trailer 

    The series follows a secret contest where 456 people in dire financial straits are brought to play a game that could make them incredibly wealthy

    The series follows a secret contest where 456 people in dire financial straits are brought to play a game that could make them incredibly wealthy

    The first season centered on divorced gambling addict Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who tries to turn things around to make life better for his daughter

    The first season centered on divorced gambling addict Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who tries to turn things around to make life better for his daughter

    He ultimately comes out victorious, but emerges traumatized from everything he's seen and done, and vowed to find those running the game at the end of Season 1

    He ultimately comes out victorious, but emerges traumatized from everything he’s seen and done, and vowed to find those running the game at the end of Season 1

    'Seong Gi-hun who vowed revenge at the end of Season 1 returns and joins the game again. Will he succeed in getting his revenge? Front Man doesn't seem to be an easy opponent this time either. The fierce clash between their two worlds will continue into the series finale with Season 3, which will be brought to you next year,' he continued

    ‘Seong Gi-hun who vowed revenge at the end of Season 1 returns and joins the game again. Will he succeed in getting his revenge? Front Man doesn’t seem to be an easy opponent this time either. The fierce clash between their two worlds will continue into the series finale with Season 3, which will be brought to you next year,’ he continued

    Fans react with glee to Squid Game's return in December

    Fans react with glee to Squid Game’s return in December

    Fans are thrilled that Squid Game is coming back for Season 2 three years later

    Fans are thrilled that Squid Game is coming back for Season 2 three years later

    Many fans expressed their excitement for Squid Game's return

    Many fans expressed their excitement for Squid Game’s return

    The fans have spoken about Squid Game Season 2

    The fans have spoken about Squid Game Season 2

    He ultimately comes out victorious, but emerges traumatized from everything he’s seen and done, and vowed to find those running the game at the end of Season 1.

    Lee Jung-jae will return alongside Lee Byung-hun as Front Man, Gong Yoo as The Recruiter (who lured Gi-hun in with a game of Ddakji) and Wi Ha-joon as Detective Hwang Jun-ho for Season 2.

    Jun-ho was shot by Front Man – who turned out to be his long-missing brother – at the end of Season 1, and he fell off a cliff, leaving his fate uncertain, though it seems he somehow survived that fall.

    Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk – who wrote and directed all 10 episodes – also shared a letter to the fans in a Netflix press release.

    ‘It’s been almost three years since Season 1 was met with incredible response around the world and many unimaginable events took place. I am beyond excited to be writing this letter to announce the date for Season 2 and share the news of Season 3, the final season,’ he began.

    ‘On the first day we began shooting Season 2, I remember thinking, “Wow, I can’t believe I’m back in the world of Squid Game.” It almost felt surreal. I wonder how it will feel for you to be back in Squid Game after three years, as well,’ he added.

    ‘Seong Gi-hun who vowed revenge at the end of Season 1 returns and joins the game again. Will he succeed in getting his revenge? Front Man doesn’t seem to be an easy opponent this time either. The fierce clash between their two worlds will continue into the series finale with Season 3, which will be brought to you next year,’ he continued.

    ‘I am thrilled to see the seed that was planted in creating a new Squid Game grow and bear fruit through the end of this story,’ Dong-hyuk added.

    ‘We’ll do our best to make sure we bring you yet another thrill ride. I hope you’re excited for what’s to come. Thank you, always, and see you soon, everyone,’ he concluded.

  • Lily Gladstone Compares Golden Globes to Squid Game

    Lily Gladstone Compares Golden Globes to Squid Game

    Lily Gladstone got a taste of Hollywood’s frenetic awards season when she was nominated for multiple honors following her amazing performance in last year’s Killers Of The Flower Moon.

    However, the actress – who stars in the must-see film Fancy Pants – discovered taking part in awards shows isn’t as glamorous as it looks.

    ‘The meeting people is the fun part of it,’ she said on a recent episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, adding, ‘I describe the [Golden] Globes as a little bit like Squid Game.’

    The Emmy winning Korean show follows financially struggling characters who are competing to become a billionaire in a series of deadly children’s games. 

    Gladstone explained her answer saying, ‘The reality is, you’re in shapewear, you need to pee, you have commercial breaks, and that’s the only time that you’re able to do it. So it’s just a mad scramble, and then that’s the time when you get to jam and meet idols like Meryl Streep. But of course, that part is not that bad.’

    Lily Gladstone Compares Golden Globes to Squid Game

    Lily Gladstone, 37, has revealed that attending awards show isn’t as glamorous as it looks on TV (Pictured in Beverly Hills in January) 

    Lily Gladstone Previews 'Fancy Dance' With Director Erica Tremblay & Isabel Deroy-Olson

    The 37-year-old won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama for her role in the fact-based Killers of the Flower Moon.

    She also earned the SAG award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, and made history as the first Native American actress to be nominated for an Oscar.

    ‘Why am I the first?’ she asked Deadline at the time.

    ‘Why did it have to take this long for me to be the first Indigenous North American? Most of the films that show up in these categories are shot on Indigenous land in North America, and it’s taken this long.’ 

    Her current film, Fancy Dance, has been ‘certified fresh’ and given a 96-percent rating from the critics at Rotten Tomatoes. 

    The plot focuses on the extremes Goldstone’s Jax goes to in order for her niece to be able to attend an annual powwow, where she has participated and excelled in traditional dance with her recently missing mother.

    The film draws attention to the large numbers of missing and murdered Native women in North America.  As of August 2021, The Sovereign Bodies Institute’s data base of MMIW — missing and murdered Indigenous women — contained 4,754 cases in the U.S. and Canada. 

    ‘Fancy dance is a style of dance that exists within powwow culture and it originated as pretty exclusively a men’s form… and once, long ago, or not so many generations ago, there was a Ponca woman who wanted to move the way the men did, ‘she explained.

    The actress won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama for her role in the fact-based Killers of the Flower Moon

    The actress won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama for her role in the fact-based Killers of the Flower Moon

    In an interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, she compared the Golden Globes to the Netflix hit Squid Game

    In an interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, she compared the Golden Globes to the Netflix hit Squid Game

    'You¿re in shapewear, you need to pee, you have commercial breaks, and that¿s the only time that you¿re able to do it.' she said. 'It¿s just a mad scramble, and then that¿s the time when you get to jam and meet idols like Meryl Streep. But of course, that part is not that bad' (Pictured in Beverly Hills in January)

    ‘You’re in shapewear, you need to pee, you have commercial breaks, and that’s the only time that you’re able to do it.’ she said. ‘It’s just a mad scramble, and then that’s the time when you get to jam and meet idols like Meryl Streep. But of course, that part is not that bad’ (Pictured in Beverly Hills in January)

    Gladstone also won the SAG award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, and made history as the first Native American actress to be nominated for an Oscar for her work in Killers of the Flower Moon

    Gladstone also won the SAG award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, and made history as the first Native American actress to be nominated for an Oscar for her work in Killers of the Flower Moon

    Gladstone is currently starring in the Apple+ movie Fancy Dance. The film focuses on powwow culture and draws attention to the large numbers of missing and murdered Native women in North America

    Gladstone is currently starring in the Apple+ movie Fancy Dance. The film focuses on powwow culture and draws attention to the large numbers of missing and murdered Native women in North America

    ‘So women’s traditional dance, which is what I did when I was a kid, it’s very graceful, it’s very measured, it’s very contained, so this young woman, wanted to move like the men, so she grabbed what was at hand, a scarf, two scarves, and she started moving the way they did, spinning and doing fancy footwork, so that gave birth to women’s old style fancy dance.’

    Gladstone can also be seen co-starring with Riley Keough in the Hulu drama Under the Bridge.

    The fact-based murder mystery focuses on the disappearance of a teen and the seven young people accused of her murder. 

    The busy actress has recently complete two other project.

  • Korean survival drama The 8 Show on Netflix leaves fans ‘traumatised’, drawing comparisons to hit series Squid Game

    Korean survival drama The 8 Show on Netflix leaves fans ‘traumatised’, drawing comparisons to hit series Squid Game

    Nearly three years after Squid Game took the world by storm, Netflix is hoping to once again smash viewing records with a new Korean survival drama. 

    The 8 Show tells the story of eight people in need of cash who are invited to take part in a suspicious reality TV show. 

    And despite viewers enjoying the similarities between the two Netflix series, they said The 8 Show ‘traumatised’ them and left them ‘screaming at their screens’.

    One fan wrote on social media platform X: ‘Bruh don’t watch The 8 Show on Netflix, s**t is traumatising’;

    ‘The 8 Show on Netflix has me SCREAMING at my TV!!!’;

    Korean survival drama The 8 Show on Netflix leaves fans ‘traumatised’, drawing comparisons to hit series Squid Game

    Nearly three years after Squid Game took the world by storm, Netflix is hoping to once again smash viewing records with a new Korean survival drama

    Despite viewers enjoying the similarities between The 8 Show and Squid Game (pictured), they said The 8 Show 'traumatised' them and left them 'screaming at their screens'

    Despite viewers enjoying the similarities between The 8 Show and Squid Game (pictured), they said The 8 Show ‘traumatised’ them and left them ‘screaming at their screens’

    ‘If you like Squid Game watch The 8 Show on Netflix’;

    ‘The 8 Show is crazyyyy’; ‘The 8 Show OMFG!!!’

    The series is written and directed by Han Jae-rim while it is based on the Naver webtoons, Money Game and Pie Game, by Bae Jin-soo.

    The cast includes Ryu Jun-yeol, Chun Woo-hee, Park Jeong-min and Lee Yul-eum, among others.

    The 8 Show was released worldwide on Netflix on May 17.

    It comes after the first trailer for the long-awaited second season of Squid Game has finally been released, three years after the debut run broke global records.

    The South Korean dystopian drama is finally returning to Netflix later this year, and a 17-second teaser warned that the sinister ringmaster behind the murderous game will once again be pulling the strings.

    In the clip, Lee Jung-jae is back as Seong gi-hun – the lone survivor of the first games.

    Showing off a new pink hairstyle, he can be seen strolling through an airport or a train station, before answering a call from a mystery figure.

    Seong gi-hun is told: ‘You’ll regret your decision.’

    The 8 Show tells the story of eight people in need of cash who are invited to take part in a suspicious reality TV show

    The 8 Show tells the story of eight people in need of cash who are invited to take part in a suspicious reality TV show

    The series is written and directed by Han Jae-rim while it is based on the Naver webtoons, Money Game and Pie Game, by Bae Jin-soo

    The series is written and directed by Han Jae-rim while it is based on the Naver webtoons, Money Game and Pie Game, by Bae Jin-soo

    One fan wrote on social media platform X: 'Bruh don't watch The 8 Show on Netflix, s**t is traumatising'

    One fan wrote on social media platform X: ‘Bruh don’t watch The 8 Show on Netflix, s**t is traumatising’

    But the hero refuses to back down, and he replies: ‘I will find you. No matter what it takes.’

    The release date for the second season of Squid Game is yet to be announced, though Netflix have confirmed it will hit the streaming service in 2024.

    Squid Game initially began streaming on Netflix September 17, 2021, and quickly gained steam as a pop culture phenomenon, en route to becoming the company’s most-watched series in its history.

    Upon its’ debut in autumn 2021, Squid Game garnered more than 1.65 billion viewing hours in a 28-day span, with more than 111 million accounts tuned in to the South Korean drama.

    It marked the first time the streamer had more than 100 million members tuned in at the time it had premiered, according to Deadline .

    Reprising their roles from the first season, Lee Byung-hun will play Front Man, while Wi Ha-jun will portray Jun-ho and Gong Yoo will play the Salesman.

    New addition to the cast for the show’s second season will include Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-Neul, Park Sung-hoon and Yang Dong-geun, Park Gyu-young, Jo Yu-ri, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Lee Jin-uk, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won and Won Ji-an.

    Hwang Dong-hyuk will serve as a director and executive producer on the show’s second season, which is slated to begin production later this year.

    It comes after the first trailer for the long-awaited second season of Squid Game has finally been released, three years after the debut run broke global records

    It comes after the first trailer for the long-awaited second season of Squid Game has finally been released, three years after the debut run broke global records

    Upon its' debut in autumn 2021, Squid Game garnered more than 1.65 billion viewing hours in a 28-day span

    Upon its’ debut in autumn 2021, Squid Game garnered more than 1.65 billion viewing hours in a 28-day span

    The first season ended with Gi-hun refusing to spend his prize money before discovering that the mastermind all along was his old friend Oh Il-nam – played by Oh Yeong-su.

    After Il-nam dies Gi-hun realises that the game is still going on, when he sees The Salesman recruiting another new player.

    At that moment, instead of going on a plane with his daughter, he leaves vowing to stop the game forever.

    Season two will no doubt have parallels with the first, but a bigger budget and new games have been promised, so it should be anything but boring.

    The 8 Show is available exclusively on Netflix internationally.

  • Squid Game Champion Finally Receives Historic Payout from Netflix After Year-long Wait

    Squid Game Champion Finally Receives Historic Payout from Netflix After Year-long Wait

    Viewers were gripped when Mai Whelan won Squid Game: The Challenge last year, but the star has only just received her prize money, according to People Magazine.

    Immigration adjudicator Mai, 55, won a staggering $4.56 million after beating 455 other players in the Netflix series last February.

    Sources told TMZ that contestants signed a contract agreeing that the winner would only get their hands on the jackpot 30 days after the finale premiered.

    ‘Our contracts stated that the winner would receive the money – 30 days after the finale’, Sam Kohn, who was player 188 on the show, also tweeted. 

    However, the season one finale aired on December 6, meaning Mai was expected to have pocketed her winnings earlier this month.

    The reality television show, which showed players battle it out in a series of taxing trials, was controversially renewed for a second season.

    Viewers were gripped when Mai Whelan won Squid Game : The Challenge last year, but the star has only just received her prize money

    Viewers were gripped when Mai Whelan won Squid Game : The Challenge last year, but the star has only just received her prize money

    Mai was ruthless in her victory which has seen her rake in a whopping $4.56 million

    Mai was ruthless in her victory which has seen her rake in a whopping $4.56 million

    The game show based on Netflix's hit show debuted on November 22 (pictures from Squid Game: The Challenge)

     The game show based on Netflix’s hit show debuted on November 22 (pictures from Squid Game: The Challenge)

    The reality competition show featured a whopping 456 competitors (pictured from Squid Game: The Challenge)

    The reality competition show featured a whopping 456 competitors (pictured from Squid Game: The Challenge)

    What will Mai do with the money?

    Mai, who shared her dramatic story of escaping the communist regime in her homeland after the fall of Saigon, plans to spend her jackpot responsibly – on a retirement home, and donating to charity.

    In the widely-panned finale, Whelan triumphed over scuba instructor Phill Cain, 27, after multiple rounds of rock, paper, scissor.

    The final shot of the entire series followed Mai walking up to an ATM and checking her balance to see $4.56m waiting for her.

    It is still unclear whether she received the money as a lump sum or in increments. 

    Mai told The Times she splashed out on a fancy hairdo, Ralph Lauren dress and Jimmy Choo shoes for a recent Netflix event. 

    ‘I still have buyer’s remorse from that, but I think it’s well deserved’, she said.

    What did she have to do to win? 

    Netflix described the spin-off as ‘inspired’ by the original, but also welcomed a whole host of new surprising additions for the show last winter.

    Similar challenges already seen in Squid Game featured on the show, such as the infamous Red Light, Green Light, Sugar Honeycombs and Hopscotch games.

    Contestants also battled it out for the jackpot by forming alliances and were strategic in a game of survival as fellow competitors dropped off like flies. 

    But contestants did not put their actual lives on the line to win the $4.56 million prize – although with such a huge sum of money up for grabs, it would make sense if so. 

    The show hosted 456 on the new reality TV competition based on the hit Netflix show - Squid Game. The competitors battled it out for a whopping $4.56 million

    The show hosted 456 on the new reality TV competition based on the hit Netflix show – Squid Game. The competitors battled it out for a whopping $4.56 million

    Some challenges from the original show made an appearance last winter, including Red Light, Green Light, Sugar Honeycombs and Hopscotch

    Some challenges from the original show made an appearance last winter, including Red Light, Green Light, Sugar Honeycombs and Hopscotch 

    Contestants complain about conditions

    Ten episodes of the show appeared on Netflix, with its first titled Red Light, Green Light, signalling a huge hint to fans on what was to come.

    During each round and episode, competitors were funnelled into a game hall through a spiralling, multi-coloured hallway while being watched by guards in pink jumpsuits with shapes that covered their faces.

    Three unidentified competitors also spoke out against the show, with claims that they were made to film in zero degree weather, according to Variety.

    They stressed that they had not signed up for a Bear Grylls or Naked and Afraid type show and were shocked by filming conditions.

    Describing playing Red Light Green Light for six hours, one contestant said: ‘This isn’t a game. 

    ‘The fun is now gone. You can’t tell people they have to stand in below freezing temperatures in just a tracksuit and two pairs of socks’.

    A second alleged that conditions were ‘absolutely inhumane’ elaborating that four individuals had passed out during the game’s second round. 

    The claimant said they could see one girl faint, hearing her head hit the floor, adding: ‘But then someone came on the [microphone] and said to hold our positions because the game is not paused. After that, people were dropping like flies’.

      The infamous Red Light, Green Light was filmed for a reported six hours, with some contestants hitting out at the show for poor filming conditions

      The infamous Red Light, Green Light was filmed for a reported six hours, with some contestants hitting out at the show for poor filming conditions

      One competitor came forward with claims that the conditions were 'absolutely inhumane', alleging four people fainted during the games' second round

      One competitor came forward with claims that the conditions were ‘absolutely inhumane’, alleging four people fainted during the games’ second round

      Endless list of controversies 

      The list of controversies regarding the Netflix show did not end with the alleged treatment of contestants either.

      Fans were quick to point out that the streaming giant was quick to hand out the $4.5 million prize fresh off the back of the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild strikes.

      Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter one wrote: ‘I don’t know how tone deaf you have to be to create this, it’s insurmountable. Capitalism at its finest.

      ‘Also, this is what you pour all your money into instead of properly paying staff? Lol’.

      Previous accusations had also been levied against Netflix for not paying the Squid Game series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk residuals, despite the show being among the highest-earning on the platform.

      Another chimed in: ‘The creator of squid game not being paid adequately while Netflix continues to profit from it while also missing the whole point of the show. 

      ‘How anyone can look forward to watching this is crazy’.

      Others were disheartened that Netflix had not released a sequel to the original Squid Game, with one writing: ‘We need season 2 of real Squid Game. Please’.

      People were quick to bash the show branding it as 'ignorant' and 'tone deaf'

      People were quick to bash the show branding it as ‘ignorant’ and ‘tone deaf’

      Tone deaf: Some pointed how previous accusations had also been levied against Netflix for not paying the Squid Game series creator - Hwang Dong-hyuk - residuals

      Tone deaf: Some pointed how previous accusations had also been levied against Netflix for not paying the Squid Game series creator – Hwang Dong-hyuk – residuals

      ‘And yet, what we actually asked for was a second season, not a game show’, a second commented.

      However some fans slammed Netflix as ‘ignorant’ and ‘tone deaf’ for bringing the fictional show to life. 

      ‘I see you completely missed the point of the series. Good job,’ one quipped.

      A second penned: ‘The fact this even exists proves they didn’t understand the point of the actual show – it’s going to be so disappointing how popular this will likely be’.

      ‘Making a reality game show based a show that critiques capitalism is still super cringe,’ another jabbed. 

      ‘I hate that this exists,’ wrote one user: ‘Squid Game’s entire premise was a satire of greed, class warfare and exploitation of the working class. So naturally a large corporate entity like Netflix just saw dollar signs $$’.

      Squid Game: The Challenge aired on Netflix on November 22, 2023.

      Other fans were not happy that the streaming giant handed out the $4.5 million prize fresh off the back of the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild strikes

      Other fans were not happy that the streaming giant handed out the $4.5 million prize fresh off the back of the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild strikes 

      Other viewers labelled the show as 'cringe', stating that they 'hated' that it exists

      Other viewers labelled the show as ‘cringe’, stating that they ‘hated’ that it exists

    • Lee Byung-hun, star of Squid Game, falls victim to home robbery in upscale Los Angeles neighborhood amidst recent string of break-ins.

      Lee Byung-hun, star of Squid Game, falls victim to home robbery in upscale Los Angeles neighborhood amidst recent string of break-ins.

      Lee Byung-hun has had his home trashed by burglars.

      The Squid Game star, 53, was away from home when a member of his team reportedly called in to check in on his property in LA only to find that it had been  ransacked.

      Sources told TMZ that the thieves had ‘smashed a sliding glass door’ to gain access to his home.

      But it remains ‘unclear’ what was actually taken – if anything – or what any items stolen may be worth. 

      The actor – who played Front Man in the Netflix series, will be working with police over the coming days to determine what has happened, according to the outlet. 

      Lee Byung-Hun - who is known for playing Front Man in Netflix hit series Squid Game - has had his  LA home ransacked by burglars, (pictured in a still from the show)

      Lee Byung-Hun – who is known for playing Front Man in Netflix hit series Squid Game – has had his  LA home ransacked by burglars, (pictured in a still from the show) 

      The South Korean-born star will be working with police over the coming days to determine what has happened

      The South Korean-born star will be working with police over the coming days to determine what has happened 

      Law enforcement officials don’t believe that Lee was a specific ‘target’ of the burglars and has more fallen victim as a resident of an affluent place in the Californian city. 

      They noted that the crime appears to be ‘appears to be the work of one of the burglary crews that have been robbing wealthy neighbourhoods’ in the area.

      MailOnline has contacted representatives for comment.

      The incident comes just weeks after Master Of None star Lena Waithe lost $200,000 worth of jewellery to brazen burglars who broke in through a window at her West Hollywood mansion.

      The 39-year-old comedian and writer was out of town when a group of thieves smashed a window and slipped inside, according to TMZ.

      Law enforcement sources told the outlet the robbers snatched $200,000 worth of jewellery during the brazen break-in.

      The crime was discovered by a member of Waithe’s staff, who arrived at the house the next day and found the front door unlocked. 

      The actress purchased her six-bedroom, eight-bathroom Studio City home for $6.4 million in 2021.

      Law enforcement officials do not believe that the Netflix star (pictured in October 2023 ) was a specific target for the thieves

      Law enforcement officials do not believe that the Netflix star (pictured in October 2023 ) was a specific target for the thieves 

      Towards the end of last year, comedienne Lena Waithe lost $200,000 of jewellery to brazen thieves who smashed through a window in her West Hollywood mansion while she was out of town

      Towards the end of last year, comedienne Lena Waithe lost $200,000 of jewellery to brazen thieves who smashed through a window in her West Hollywood mansion while she was out of town

      The 39-year-old is best known as Denise in Netflix series Master Of None and as creator of The Chi, a drama based on her own upbringing on Chicago's South Side

      The 39-year-old is best known as Denise in Netflix series Master Of None and as creator of The Chi, a drama based on her own upbringing on Chicago’s South Side

      The sprawling mansion is just shy of 7,000 square feet and features an outdoor kitchen, backyard sauna and in-ground pool.

      Waithe is best known as Denise from Netflix comedy Master of None and creator of The Chi, a drama series influenced by her upbringing in Chicago, Illinois.

      She knew as a child that she wanted to write for television and was encouraged to do so by her single mother and grandmother, Waithe told Vogue in 2015.

      After moving to Los Angeles, she secured a job as an assistant to the executive producer of Girlfriends, a sitcom centering on a friendship group of black women.