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The unflinching brutality of a survival show had everyone captivated in 2021. The Netflix showSquid Gamehas returned with a more powerful presence in its second season. This Korean phenomenon is making waves on international waters.
As Netflix’s most-watched series,Squid Gamehas garnered numerous accolades, including Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. While it may look like an overnight success, in reality, it is not. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk faced tremendous challenges before achieving this level of global recognition.
It took him 12 long years to secure approval from scriptwriters and production houses. After countless rejections, Netflix finally emerged as the lifeline for his vision.
Squid Game took 12 years to get made
While viewers can binge-watch a season in a matter of hours, behind the scenes lies a decade of relentless effort. DirectorHwang Dong-hyukopenly discussed his arduous journey, revealing that he conceived the show’s concept in 2008 and crafted the script the following year. It took him 12 years to give his creative masterpiece a proper platform.
Reported toThe Korea Timesin 2021, Dong-hyuk shared it took him a decade to give the show a platform. However, its violent narrative deterred potential production houses, leaving him without funding. He explained–
But, after about 12 years, the world has changed into a place where such peculiar violent survival stories are welcomed.
Dong-hyuk pointed out, that the world has evolved, and people have come to senses as it is relevant to real life. He emphasized it by saying–
The series’ game that participants go crazy over aligns with people’s desire to hit the jackpot with things like cryptocurrency, real estate and stocks. So many people have been able to empathize with the story.
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Dong-hyuk himself conceived the idea from his economic struggle as well as Korea’s status of class disparity and capitalism. Writing the story in 2009, when no other Korean production company funded it, Netflix emerged as a lifesaver. The streaming platform was on a mission to expand the foreign program offering andSquid Gamefinally made it to the list.
Squid Gamewas originally meant to be a movie
With the release of season 2,Squid Gamecontinues to dominate streaming charts. The show became the most-viewed series of 2024 within one week. Released on June 11, 2025, it became the most-viewed show with a 4.9 billion minute watch, as reported byNielsen. In just four days, season 2 amassed 64 million views, marking Netflix’s biggest TV debut ever.
While the series continues its reign at the top, it’s notable that the initial nine episodes of Season 1 were originally conceived as a movie. Based on children’s games, the survival series was all about people who can solve it; there is no winner. It was a long episode of puzzle-solving games; condensing it into a movie seemed like a tough task.
After Bong Joon-Ho’sOscar-winning masterpieceParasitehit the global market, nothing seemed harder; Dong-hyuk realized that ambitious storytelling knows no bounds. It was like a gamble to him and he wanted to do it initially. The idea behind it was very experimental. He knew it would be hit or miss, either a “masterpiece or a quirky flop.”
For him transforming the story into a series was a big adventure. However, it put him under immense pressure. He stated–
Each night before filming, I would always think about ways to make scenes better and revise the script. The level of stress that I was under was a full 100 percent, which hit me hard.
In choosing the games for the series, the director also put in extra effort. He thoughtfully decided that kid’s games would be more effective than those designed for adults.
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His relentless dedication has undoubtedly paid off. From a single series to a successful second season,Squid Gamecontinues to top every list, with a highly anticipated third installment on the way.Squid Gameseason 3is set to release in 2025.
Dong-hyuk’s journey exemplifies a vital lesson: consistency is key to success. Life moves on, but perseverance and belief in one’s dreams will ultimately lead to triumph.
Squid Gameseason 2 is streaming on Netflix.
Kaberi Ray
Articles Published :533
Kaberi is an Entertainment Writer at FandomWire with over one year of experience specializing in pop culture and entertainment trends. She has written over 500 in-depth articles covering everything from fan theories to narrative dissection, focusing on platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Paramount Plus.Before joining FandomWire, Kaberi honed her storytelling skills through literary analysis and creative projects rooted in her academic background in English Literature. Her strengths lie in her ability to decode layered storytelling across genres whether it’s analyzing thrillers or exploring new trends. She continues to expand her creative horizon as she’s currently learning a new language.
