Director Hwang Dong-hyuk (54) revealed his thoughts on the possibility of an American version and spin-off of ‘Squid Game’.
The Netflix series ‘Squid Game Season 3’ captures the final fate of Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who loses his best friend in a game he re-enters with his own purpose, and the Frontman (Lee Byung-hun), who hides his identity while lurking in the game, along with the participants who survived the brutal game.
Director Hwang, who gained attention with the 2011 film ‘Silenced’, has been recognized for the high quality of his works, including ‘Miss Granny’ and ‘The Fortress’. He rose to global fame as a director through ‘Squid Game’, his first drama and OTT challenge.
‘Squid Game’ Season 1, which premiered in 2021, set the record for the most views across all Netflix English and non-English TV series, creating a global sensation. It swept six categories at the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Directing, Outstanding Lead Actor, and Outstanding Guest Actress.
The subsequent Season 2 also reached the number one spot in viewership rankings within its first week and ranked third in Netflix TV shows based on cumulative views, following ‘Squid Game 1’ and ‘Wednesday’.
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk stated, “Seong Gi-hun is an iconic character inseparable from ‘Squid Game’. He symbolizes an ordinary person, a weak individual. From his foolish, loser-like, and pitiful appearance, he expresses his conscience and humanity, realizes the meaning of the game, and transforms, ultimately completing the game. He passionately portrayed that.”
He continued, “We filmed Seasons 2 and 3 for a whole year, and during that time, he was on a diet eating only vegetables. As the filming progressed, he showed a more haggard appearance. Seeing that made me feel respect and gratitude for his passion. He always ate separately, to the point where it felt like he was isolating himself from the world. I am grateful for his dedication to the work; he is someone I will never forget.”
He also mentioned that a memorable moment was the day they filmed Gi-hun's final scene.
He said, “Every moment is memorable,” but added, “The day we filmed Gi-hun’s fall is the most memorable. Among all the expressions of Gi-hun I’ve seen, his last face stands out. I remember him saying, ‘We are not just words, we are people.’ The actor put in his best effort to immerse himself in the role for over a year. At that moment, I felt that this was the end.” He expressed, “I wanted to convey a story through Seong Gi-hun’s journey, and there is no room for more ‘Squid Game’.”
At the end of this season, Hollywood star Kate Blanchett made an appearance, sparking discussions about the possibility of an American version of ‘Squid Game’.
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk stated, “Previously, I thought about a different ending when Seong Gi-hun went to America and saw another recruit. However, when Seong Gi-hun died, I thought about how one person's effort ended the Korean game, but this system is firmly established and won’t end easily. I didn’t create it to connect to the American version.”
Earlier, it was reported through foreign media that director David Fincher, known for films like ‘Fight Club’, ‘Seven’, and ‘Gone Girl’, would be directing the American version of ‘Squid Game’. However, Netflix has not officially announced this.
Regarding the production of the American version, Director Hwang said, “I’ve seen it all, but I don’t know how true it is. I haven’t heard anything officially,” but added, “I’m a fan of David Fincher, so if it’s really made, I think it would be interesting. If I were to be approached, I would seriously consider it.”
He spoke about the spin-off, saying, “I conveyed all the messages I wanted to in this story. If that’s the case, I would like to try a work with a different tone. There are fishing photos taken with Ddakji-nam and a photo with the Frontman while searching Captain Park’s house. I wonder when this photo was taken and what their relationship was. I thought it would be interesting to explore the story of these people over three years. If a spin-off happens, I want to tell an entertaining story without the message. But that’s a vague thought, and I hope to try it someday.”
In conclusion, Director Hwang Dong-hyuk reflected on the glory and significance gained from ‘Squid Game’, saying, “It’s a work that made me feel both proud and humble.”
He stated, “While working on this project, I experienced frustration when criticized and joy when praised, and unexpectedly received an Emmy Award. I also suffered from immense pressure and pondered how I should live while contemplating the message of this work. I think I reflected a lot on myself. I’ve thought a lot about what story I want to tell and how I should live. More than the glory of the work, I find myself thinking about those things.”
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
