‘Squid Game’ Season 3 Might Drop as Soon as This Summer
This story contains spoilers for Squid Game season 2.
Can you believe it? Squid Game season 2 is finally here. It's been three years since the Korean drama captured our collective attention, rising to become the most popular Netflix series of all time. The show was such a hit that national news broadcasts felt the need to explain to people what the hell a "squid game" was, while NBC News aired testimonials from people saying that they "could not hold a conversation [with friends] without watching the show."
Clearly, a series about the struggle to escape crippling debt hit home with audiences all around the world—for better or worse—making Squid Game such a success that Netflix convinced creator Hwang Dong-hyuk to write two more seasons. Now fans can watch the thrilling second installment.
"Honestly, when I was working on the first season, I didn't have any plans or thoughts about there ever being further seasons," Hwang told Entertainment Weekly. The creator revealed that he lost "eight or nine" teeth due to the stress of writing and directing the first season, but the overwhelming success of the show ultimately brought him back. "I knew that there was so much expectation and curiosity as to what would Gi-hun do next by the fans, so I didn't want to end it here," said Hwang. "It was almost my mission or my role to further tell that story."
So when season 2 begins, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) and his newly dyed pink hair are roped back into the drama of Squid Game as well. He could have run away with his winnings. Instead he now holds a deep desire to stop the games. He and police officer Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) meet up and figure out a plan to reenter the games, take the baddies down from the inside, and end the games forever. It's not the best idea. Gi-hun rallies the other contestants and stages an insurrection around halfway through the next round of games. Sadly, the Front Man puts an end to his crusade just as the credits rolls on season 2's finale.
When Does Squid Game Season 3 Release?
Much like The Bear season 3 ending with a "To Be Continued…" title card, Squid Game season 2 also ends on a significant cliff-hanger. Luckily, fans won't need to wait another three years before Squid Game returns. Season 3 is scheduled to air sometime in 2025, according to Netflix. The third season will also mark the final chapter of the Korean drama.
"The fierce clash between [Gi-hun and the Front Man's] two worlds will continue into the series finale with Season 3, which will be brought to you next year," Hwang wrote in a message to fans. He originally envisioned seasons 2 and 3 as one complete story, but he split the episodes into two seasons after realizing the number of episodes it would take to complete the tale. Season 2 is a relatively short season with only seven episodes, but the episode count is not yet known for season 3.
In an interview with Variety, Hwang stated that "we will be announcing the launch date for season 3 soon. I probably expect that to launch around summer or fall next year."
What's in Store for Squid Game Season 3?
Gi-hun's plan to overthrow the games is foiled right before season 2's finale cuts to the credits. His clash with the Front Man will conclude in season 3, according to the series creator. Does that mean that Gi-hun will successfully stop the games, or will the Front Man succeed in convincing Gi-hun that the games are a necessity?
First, Gi-hun will need to survive another round of the games. "Gi-hun having lost everything, including his best friend, and all of his attempts going to failure, it's now, what is he going to be like?" Hwang told Variety. "What state is Gi-hun going to be in? And what will he choose to do? Will he continue on with the mission? Is he going to give up or persist? And so you're going to meet our character Gi-hun at a very critical crossroads as we begin the third season. Gi-hun will not be the man he was in season 2."
Season 2 also set up many more competitors—who will likely all break our hearts when they're eliminated in season 3. Audiences still need to see what ultimately happens to Myung-gi and his pregnant girlfriend, as well as Park Yong-sik and his mother. There’s also Dae-ho, whose cowardice left everyone without ammo; Hyun-ju, a transgender woman hoping to win enough money to afford her gender-affirming surgery; and the mysterious fortune teller Seon-nyeo.
Outside the games, police officer Jun-ho is still searching for the island. Viewers will likely receive answers as to why his older brother went missing and then became the Front Man. If that wasn't enough, season 2 also introduced a new plot surrounding a North Korean defector who is searching for her son. She joins the games as a trigger-happy guard who is clearly holding a secret motive. Got all that? Well I'm sure there's plenty more in store for season 3 when the final episodes return later in 2025. I just hope that's early 2025 and not late 2025.
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