Director Hwang Dong-hyuk drew the line regarding the plans for the follow-up seasons of ‘Squid Game’, which finished filming both seasons 2 and 3 at the same time, saying, “I‘ve told you all the stories I wanted to tell in season 3.”

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who directed the Netflix original series ‘Squid Game’, and producer Kim Ji-yeon of Cyran Pictures, held a press conference with domestic reporters about the work at the Four Seasons Hotel in Gwanghwamun, Jongno-gu, Seoul on August 1, ahead of the release of season 2 on December 26. The press conference was held four months before the release of season 2, and the embargo for reporting related content was set for November 13.

When asked by reporters about his plans for the next season that day, Director Hwang responded, “I don’t think I can do it again. It‘s too hard. (While filming seasons 2 and 3 simultaneously) we filmed 200 episodes in 11 months. I think we did more than what a person can do. (If you watch the released drama) you will know that the story ends in season 3. I have told all the stories I wanted to tell, and there is no point in continuing this work. It will be the finale.”

Regarding a spin-off other than season 2, he said, “I muttered to myself like a crazy person, thinking about spin-offs with derived side stories, but I don’t think that will happen right away. I hope my next work will be a ‘theatrical movie’. (With ‘Squid Game’) I really did everything I could,” he said with a laugh.

Meanwhile, ‘Squid Game’ season 2 contains the fierce confrontation between Ki-hoon (Lee Jung-jae), who vows revenge and returns to participate in the game of death, and the frontman (Lee Byung-hun) who greets him, as well as the real game starting again.


Reporter Seung-mi Lee smlee@donga.com