David Fincher’s rumoured ‘Squid Game’ American spin-off stands cancelled
Cate Blanchett’s appearance as an American recruiter in Los Angeles in Squid Game finally birthed a wild rumour mill that it was Netflix’s way of hinting at David Fincher’s speculated US spin-off.
Although creator Hwang Dong-hyuk denied the link and Blanchett didn’t acknowledge a reunion with her Curious Case of Benjamin Button director, she revealed to Variety she was “wildly open to anything.”
Yet, according to an exclusive new report by The Playlist, citing sources close to Fincher, Netflix doesn’t plan to move forward with Heckler, which was supposed to be the working title of his long-rumoured US spin-off of the South Korean hit, Squid Game.
Despite presumably being conceived as an American version of the Korean phenomenon, production was reportedly supposed to take place in the United Kingdom. A June 2024 report by the tabloid attached Dennis Kelly, the creator and writer of Utopia, as the writer of Fincher’s version of Squid Game.
As per industry insiders, the concept ideally came into being because of Netflix’s interest in developing an American version of the South Korean survival thriller. However, the executive changes over the years in development may have caused a change of heart for the franchise.
While the project is also said to have lost considerable momentum with Fincher’s upcoming The Adventures of Cliff Booth coming to life, Netflix is seemingly now interested in exploring versions designed for individual international markets, instead of an English-language American offshoot. This means the franchise may turn towards French, Norwegian, or other country-specific spin-offs, but all of this remains conjecture.
One of the sources also explained that no regional version is currently known to be confirmed. Having said that, Heckler no longer appears to have a room in this conversation.
Similarly, it remains unsure Blanchett was ever involved with an American spin-off to begin with, since the project didn’t originate with her or her American recruiter character in mind.
But reports about Fincher’s rumoured English-language Squid Game version were indeed all over in 2024, with several sources revealing that it would be his priority in 2025. Meanwhile, subsequent reports about production potentially beginning in 2026 also followed, even though Netflix never officially gave a word.
With Heckler crossed out of the list, all that’s left for now is to return to Squid Game, with all seasons currently streaming on Netflix.