“Squid Game” Returns: Stars Reflect on Global Phenomenon as Season Two Nears Release

The highly anticipated second season of Netflix’s global sensation, “Squid Game,” is on the horizon, and for lead actor Lee Jung-jae, stepping back into the role of Gi-hun felt like no time had passed at all, The Associated Press reports.

“Including promotion, I’d been living with Gi-hun for about two years,” Lee said in a recent interview. “I really felt like I was him.”

The series, which depicts a brutal underground competition where debt-ridden individuals compete in deadly versions of children’s games for a massive cash prize, became Netflix’s most-watched series after its 2021 release. It garnered critical acclaim, earning Lee a Primetime Emmy for acting and Hwang Dong-hyuk one for directing. The success of the show propelled Lee into international spotlight, leading to roles in films showcased at Cannes and his first English-language role in the Disney+ series “The Acolyte.”

Despite the global acclaim, Lee admitted to initial doubts about the speed of a second season.

“I wondered, ‘How many years will it take him to write season two,’” he said, recalling the time Hwang took to create the first season.

However, Hwang surprised everyone by completing the scripts for season two, and a third and final season, in just six months.

While developing new characters was relatively easy, Hwang admitted the biggest challenge lay in deciding Gi-hun’s arc. Lee, after reading the scripts, praised Hwang’s creative vision.

The second season represents a major leap for Korean television, where it’s rare for successful shows to get more than one season. The show is already generating awards buzz with a nomination for Best Drama Series at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards.

The global reach of “Squid Game” has also been a career booster for veteran actor Lee Byung-hun, who returns as the villain from season one. Despite having appeared in major English-language films like “G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra” and “Red 2,” Lee Byung-hun credits the show for elevating his career.

Newcomer, Jo Yu-ri, described the casting process as lengthy, revealing she waited two months between auditions, and tearfully celebrating her acceptance to the cast. Actors were kept under strict confidentiality, with Yang sharing that a few close friends “popped champagne” upon learning about her casting.

Netflix is expanding the “Squid Game” universe, ordering a second season of a reality competition show based on the series and developing an English language version. The third and final season of the original series has wrapped filming and is currently in post-production.