Netflix CEO: “The ‘Squid Game’ universe has just begun”
(Credit: Netflix)

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Netflix CEO: “The ‘Squid Game’ universe has just begun"

Hwang Dong-hyuk’s survival thriller series Squid Game became one of the biggest hit shows to have ever premiered on Netflix, earning the streaming platform massive revenues. It also induced the Korean Wave, wherein the global audience began taking interest in Korean films and shows, trying to learn the language and understand the culture. 

Although Hwang had confirmed the renewal of the show for two more seasons, Netflix had never released an official statement. However, recently, Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO and Chief Content Officer at Netflix, affirmed the return of the series. 

At an interview, while talking about Netflix’s earnings in 2021, Sarandos was asked if Squid Game would indeed make a comeback. Confirming the same, Sarandos said, “The Squid Game universe has just begun.” 

Starring Lee Jung-jae, Jung HoYeon, Park Hae-soo and more, Squid Game was a scathing commentary on capitalism, power dynamics, financial crises and more, set in a dystopian modern-day Korea. For prize money of 45.6 billion Korean won, 456 participants were forced into a confined space under the panoptic gazes of sinister masked men. 

Ridden with debts and other economic liabilities, vulnerability, paranoia and anxiety are on an all-time high as they battle against each other in various games of life and death that are just the perverse version of children’s games. 

Hwang had previously opened up about the fate of the lead character Gi-hun, played by Lee, and promised for him to return and “do something for the world.”

Squid Game recently made history with O Yeong-su, the veteran actor who played Player 001 in the series, winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor, becoming the first-ever Korean actor to achieve this feat. 

Due to Squid Game’s success, Netflix has decided to capitalise on the current Korean high and, in a historic move, has ordered over 20 Original Korean shows and films