For viewers of Netflix’s Squid Game, the harrowing deaths of its characters might provoke gasps and tears, but for its creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, these moments elicit a different reaction—happiness. As both writer and director, Hwang admits that while he outwardly lamented each character’s departure on their final day of filming, he secretly felt relieved to manage a smaller cast moving forward.
“It was really difficult to handle such a huge cast,” Hwang shared. Reflecting on each actor’s last day, he would express regret but confessed to smiling inside.
The highly anticipated second season of Squid Game premieres Thursday, continuing the story of a clandestine competition in South Korea where individuals burdened by debt vie for a massive cash prize—unaware that losing the game costs them their lives. Once again, Lee Jung-jae reprises his role in the deadly yet gripping storyline.
Hwang originally envisioned Squid Game as a two-hour film over 15 years ago but struggled to find financial backing or interest from actors. Setting the idea aside, he focused on other projects before reimagining it as a television series. Pitching the concept to Netflix proved transformative, allowing the show to reach a global audience and achieve unprecedented success.
“I never in my wildest dreams thought it was going to be this huge,” Hwang revealed. Now, as the series moves forward, he remains humbled and excited about its trajectory.
With season two set to captivate audiences once again, Hwang’s unique vision continues to push boundaries, solidifying Squid Game as a cultural phenomenon.
