"Squid Game" is a gripping South Korean television series created by Hwang Dong-hyuk for Netflix. The talented cast includes Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, HoYeon Jung, O Yeong-su, Heo Sung-tae, Anupam Tripathi, and Kim Joo-ryoung.
The storyline revolves around a clandestine competition where 456 participants, all grappling with severe financial difficulties, willingly endanger their lives to participate in a series of deadly children's games. The ultimate prize at stake is a staggering ₩45.6 billion. The title of the series is derived from a Korean children's game of the same name. Hwang Dong-hyuk conceived the idea based on his personal economic challenges, coupled with observations of class disparity in South Korea and the dynamics of capitalism. Although he formulated the story in 2009, it took until around 2019 for Netflix to express interest and fund the production as part of their initiative to diversify their foreign programming.
Released globally on September 17, 2021, "Squid Game" garnered critical acclaim and captured international audiences. It swiftly became Netflix's most-watched series and achieved the remarkable feat of being the most-watched program in 94 countries. The series accumulated over 142 million member households and an astounding 1.65 billion viewing hours in its initial four weeks, surpassing the viewership of "Bridgerton."
The show received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film for O Yeong-su. Lee Jung-jae and HoYeon Jung also made history as the first Korean actors to win the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series and Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, respectively. Additionally, the first season received 14 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, marking the first non-English-language work to be nominated in the Outstanding Drama Series category. Lee Jung-jae secured a win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, breaking new ground for Asian actors in non-English roles.
In June 2022, Netflix officially announced the production of a second season, and in an exciting development, a reality competition series titled "Squid Game: The Challenge" was introduced. The second season's production kicked off in July 2023, generating immense anticipation among fans eager for the continuation of this captivating story.
The plot centers on Seong Gi-hun, a divorced and debt-ridden gambler, who, along with 455 others facing financial turmoil, accepts an invitation to participate in life-and-death children's games for a colossal cash prize. The suspenseful narrative unfolds as the players navigate the perilous challenges, with each loss leading to fatal consequences. Allies and adversaries emerge as the characters, including Gi-hun, Cho Sang-woo, and Kang Sae-byeok, grapple with both physical and psychological twists to survive the games.
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OTT