Summary
Squid GameSeason 3 will debut in less than three weeks. In a recent interview, its creator/writer/director shared how the final season affected his health.
Squid Gameis a South Korean psychological survival thriller onNetflix. It follows Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who is forced to join a deadly game to win the cash reward worth ₩45.6 billion ($39.86 million) and pay his debt. In the tournament, he faced 455 other financially distressed individuals.Squid Gamebecame an instant hit when the first season premiered and dominated Netflix’s international top list for weeks.Squid GameSeason 2was released in December and was as successful, though many were disappointed because it ended with a major cliffhanger and had fewer episodes. Thankfully, the third and final season is coming out later this month. While fans are sure to be excited, the production has affected the creator’s health.
Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator, showrunner, writer, and director ofSquid Game, spoke withEntertainment Weeklyabout the anticipated Season 3. According to him, he lost two more teeth when they were makingSquid GameSeason 3. However, he lost more during the first season. “I thought it was going to be okay, but this time I had to pull out two more teeth as well,“Hwang told EW. “I had to pull out about eight teeth in season 1, and now I have two teeth more out, and I haven’t put them back in yet. So I’m waiting for them.” Hwang added that the final season was way easier because he had already established the universe he had in mind in the previous seasons. However, the challenge was that they filmed Seasons 2 and 3 simultaneously because they wanted to deliver the final season soon after Season 2’s cliffhanger. He acknowledged that it took nearly a year, and that the process was “very physically demanding.”
In an interview with theBBCin November 2024, Hwang admitted that he lost about nine teeth while filming the first season ofSquid Gamebecause it was reportedly very stressful. So, at one point, he didn’t want to create a sequel. However, he changed his mind for two reasons. First was money, because he didn’t make so much in Season 1 despite the show being a global hit. Second, he admitted that the story wasn’t finished, and committing to more seasons meant he would be able to complete it. Hence, Hwang returned for another season tofinish Gi-hun’s story. He clarified that this will be the final season, and it will wrap up Gi-hun’s story. However, the filmmaker is open to making a new story from the same universe.
Squid Gameis extremely stressful to make, considering the theme and detail. It highlights poverty, desperation, and violence, and being immersed in that world can be emotionally draining, much more so for Hwang, who leads the whole production. Also, he wears multiple hats by serving as the writer, showrunner, and director. So, his high-stress level while creating the series is somewhat unsurprising.
In previous interviews, Hwang said that the script forSquid Gamewas completed in 2009, and he pitched it to multiple production companies. However, they found it unrealistic and too dark, so it was rejected. Hwang pressed on despite multiple rejections, and after a decade, it landed a home on Netflix. His absolute dedication to the project is unsurprising. Also, the high expectations following the massive success of the first season only added pressure on Hwang. WithSquid GameSeason 3 coming up, Hwang can probably slow down and enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle. Fans are hoping formoreSquid Gamestories, probably spinoffs, so hopefully, the filmmaker can better manage his stress.
Squid GameSeason 3 will premiere on Netflix on July 25, 2025.
