Netflix renews Squid Game: The Challenge for Season 2
David Farnor | On 09, Dec 2023
Netflix is doubling down on its Squid Game strategy with a rapid renewal for a second season of Squid Game: The Challenge.
The reality TV contest is inspired by Netflix’s Korean drama Squid Game, a satirical fictional thriller that sees 456 desperate contestants compete with each other in a mysterious and deadly survival game. Every game they face is a traditional children’s game such as Red Light, Green Light (policed by Young-hee), but the consequence of losing is death. The show soon became Netflix’s most popular series of all time, with more than 1.65 billion view hours in the first 28 days after its September 2021 premiere.
Squid Game: The Challenge sees 456 actual people compete in similar (but non-lethal) games to win $4.56 million.
“Short on satire and high on suspense, this fast-paced, gripping competition series is a ruthless and efficient spectacle,” we wrote in our review.
The show has certainly been a hit, with more than 170 million hours watched since the show’s debut on 22nd November. Although the winner, who we won’t name here, has apparently yet to the receive their cash prize – filming finished in February, but the payment deals of the programme reportedly means that the sum would only be paid out after the series finale aired, most likely to avoid spoilers.
“There was no red light in our decision to green light Season 2 of Squid Game: The Challenge, the most ambitious unscripted show we’ve premiered at Netflix,” said Brandon Riegg, Netflix VP of Nonfiction Series, of the renewal. “We’re so excited to continue the franchise of Squid Game with our team in Korea, and producers at Studio Lambert and The Garden for this epic competition series.”
The search for new contestants is already under way, with SquidGameCasting.com now open for applications.
Trailer: Netflix begins Squid Game: The Challenge this November
23rd September 2023
What would 456 real people do for 4.56 million dollars? That’s the question being asked by Netflix’s new reality series.
The difference? This competition is inspired by Netflix’s own creation, Squid Game, a satirical fictional thriller that sees 456 desperate contestants compete with each other in a mysterious and deadly survival game. Every game they face is a traditional children’s game such as Red Light, Green Light (policed by Young-hee), but the consequence of losing is death. The show soon became Netflix’s most popular series of all time, with more than 1.65 billion view hours in the first 28 days after its September 2021 premiere.
Now, Netflix is shamelessly bringing that concept to life, apparently without a shred of irony – and with the eliminations of contestants not taken literally.
The 10-part series will premiere on 22nd November. Here’s the trailer:
Netflix turns Squid Game into game show
15th June 2022
Netflix is turning its hit series Squid Game into a real life game show.
The scripted Korean drama is a satirical thriller that sees 456 desperate contestants compete with each other in a mysterious and deadly survival game involving multiple rounds of games. The prize? 45.6 billion won (just shy of £30 million), which would pull them out of their misery. Every game they face is a traditional children’s game such as Red Light, Green Light (policed by Young-hee), but the consequence of losing is death.
The show soon became Netflix’s most popular series of all time, with more than 1.65 billion view hours in the first 28 days after its September 2021 premiere. Now the streamer is doing the inevitable and turning the satirical premise into the basis of an actual competition series.
Titled Squid Game: The Challenge, the competition will see 456 real players will enter the game in pursuit of a $4.56 million prize. As they compete through a series of games inspired by the original show, their strategies, alliances, and character will be put to the test while competitors are eliminated (not literally) around them.
The 10-episode series is a co-production between Studio Lambert (The Circle) and The Garden (24 Hours in A&E), part of ITV Studios, and it will be filmed in the UK. Stephen Lambert, Tim Harcourt, and Toni Ireland from Studio Lambert and John Hay, Nicola Hill, and Nicola Brown from The Garden will serve as executive producers.
“Squid Game took the world by storm with Director Hwang’s captivating story and iconic imagery. We’re grateful for his support as we turn the fictional world into reality in this massive competition and social experiment,” said Brandon Riegg, Netflix VP of Unscripted and Documentary Series. “Fans of the drama series are in for a fascinating and unpredictable journey as our 456 real world contestants navigate the biggest competition series ever, full of tension and twists, with the biggest ever cash prize at the end.”
Recruitment is open now at SquidGameCasting.com. For this round, Netflix is seeking English-language speakers from any part of the world.