Squid Game positively exploded in popularity upon its release last year. Naturally, it didn’t take long for Netflix to capitalize on its success by ordering a Squid Game reality show spin-off series in which real-life players will compete for their chance at winning $4.56 million. Fan reaction was divided, as the reality series seems to completely miss the point of the original drama, but Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told Entertainment Weekly that it’s all in good fun and shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
Hwang Dong-hyuk said that he’s aware that some fans have concerns about the Squid Game reality series. “I think that even though our show does carry quite a heavy message, and I know there are some concerns of taking that message and creating it into a reality show with a cash prize, however I feel like whenever you take things too seriously, that’s really not the best way to go for the entertainment industry,” he said. “Doesn’t really set a great precedent. So I would say that reproductions of such efforts are going to bring new meaning to the industry, and I hope that this is going to be a great new direction for the industry overall.” Hwang added that he “actually met with the creator yesterday, and they had many questions for me. What I hope is that they will be carrying on my vision and intention as much as possible for the show.“
Despite any misgivings from fans, I’ve no doubt that most will be turning out to watch the Squid Game reality series spin-off when it’s released, if only out of morbid curiosity. Hwang Dong-hyuk recently took home the Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, with series star Lee Jung-jae also winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. As for the second season of Squid Game, Hwang teased earlier this year that it’s shaping up to be better than he expected. “I have a set outline,” He said. “I have a treatment of a whole season two episode with new games and new characters. I like it. I think it’s good. It’s better than what I expected.”
Will you be watching the Squid Game reality series?