Season 2 of Squid Game: Creator Talks About Meeting Fan Expectations

Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of Squid Game, has spoken out about surpassing fan expectations in Season 2.

Squid Game is a hugely popular new Netflix show created, written, and directed by Dong-hyuk that has captivated audiences around the world. Hundreds of down-and-out players are rounded up and forced to participate in a series of children’s games in return for a large cash prize. If they lose, though, they will suffer fatal consequences.

 Meeting Fan Expectations

Squid Game is made up of nine episodes that reveal the mystery of the island where the games take place, as well as those that lead it. It stars Lee Jung-Jae, Park Hae-soo, Jung Hoyeon, Oh Yeong-su, and a supporting cast that makes up a diverse mix of complex characters.

The Front Man and his army of faceless soldiers who participate in the execution of those who fail the game, as well as those who come to gamble on the games, are still in the dark. While a lot is resolved in Squid Game season 1, there are still a lot of loose ends that might be pulled to continue the storyline.

Dong-hyuk recently stated that there will be a second season of Squid Game, indicating that “Gi-hun will return,” but without saying much further about how it will play out. The creator told EW that he “has a basic story thread in my head,” but that he is feeling the burden of audience expectations. Dong-hyuk says he thinks what he has in mind will meet and exceed expectations after watching YouTube videos and witnessing wild theories that have included artificial and different expectations, but that it’s “very difficult to pinpoint exactly what the fans want.”

Read his full quote below:

“When you look at the fans’ expectation, it’s very difficult. I go on YouTube and see all of these fans imagining what the second season should be like or will be like, and their imaginations are really running wild. If there were to be a second season, I think I am going to stick to the basic story line that I have in mind. And I can only hope that it will not only meet the fans’ expectations, but go beyond that. Their expectations are truly immense and very diverse, so I think it’s going to be very difficult to pinpoint exactly what the fans want.”

Dong-hyuk was inspired to create Squid Game when he was going through a rough patch in his life, struggling financially and looking for a method to fund his films.

He took refuge in comic book cafes, where he read stories like Battle Royale and other stories that he could identify to, which led to the creation of his own concept. Dong-hyuk received the go-light from Netflix to develop the nine-episode series after finishing the script, which he claims cost him six teeth owing to the stress of inventing, writing, and directing the entire show himself.

The initial goal was for Squid Game to be the most popular game in the United States for a single day. Instead, it became Netflix’s most-watched show ever.