The creator, writer and director of ‘Squid Game’ is looking at the second season

On December 27, 2024By Littum

Viewers may gasp, shudder, or cry watching characters continue to die Netflix’s “Squid Game,” but these simulated deaths have a different effect on its creator, writer and director. Instead, Hwang Dong-hyuk feels happiness watching them go.

The show has a large cast, and Hwang says it was “really difficult” to manage everyone on set.

While characters would die, Hwang recalls telling the actors on their last day, “‘Oh no! How sad! I won’t see you tomorrow, but I was always smiling inside.’

“Squid Game” season two premieres Thursday. It once again stars Lee Jung-jae and centers on a secret competition in South Korea that targets people in debt, with the winner receiving a large cash prize. What they don’t know is that losing the game is fatal.

Hwang originally conceived the show 15 years ago as a two-hour film, but it failed to gain traction with financiers or even interested actors. He put it aside and worked on other films instead. Then he got the idea to make it a TV series instead and took the project to Netflix. There it could reach a wide audience.

Lee Byung-hun, from left, Yang Dong-geun, Hwang Dong-hyuk, Jo Yu-ri, Im Si-wan, Kang Ae-sim, Lee Seo-hwan and Lee Jung-jae. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

“I never in my wildest dreams thought it would be this big,” said Hwang, who spoke to AP about the show and what’s coming next. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.

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AP: What have you learned from “Squid Game”?

HWANG: I learned not to give up. If you love something and if you want to create something, it might not work now, but the time might come later. Or that idea could be the source of inspiration for something else.

AP: You’ve already finished shooting season three of “Squid Game.” Have you thought about what your next project will be?

HWANG: I’m afraid to talk about it, but it’s a feature film set 10-20 years in the future. It’s darker than “Squid Game.” It becomes quite cruel, quite sad, but at the same time quite twisted and humorous.

AP: What movies and TV shows do you like?

HWANG: I used to think you had to have a certain taste to be cool, but I actually think I’m very omnivorous. I like to watch anything. When I’m on the couch watching TV, I sometimes watch CNN or Fox News. And then National Geographic and nature documentaries, I also watch some very soapy Korean shows or reality TV as well. I jump around and see everything that happens in the world. With a series, I often don’t stick with it all the way through. There are only about five shows that I watched to the end, like “Breaking Bad” and “Why Women Kill.”

AP: Would you ever want to direct an American production or Hollywood actors?

HWANG: Of course. I studied film school at the University of Southern California and there are so many people I would love to work with. I’ve had these offers since “Squid Game,” but because I’m a screenwriter and director, I think I’m at my best when I work with Korean actors and give direction in Korean with my Korean script. But if I come across a great script, why not? I would love to work with Jake Gyllenhaal.

AP: There are more characters in season two of “Squid Game.” Why is that?

HWANG: With seasons two and three, I had more screen time for more characters. This time we have a lot of younger characters. When I was doing Season 1, I thought it was very difficult for you to be up to your neck in debt when you’re only in your 20s or 30s. I thought you had to be at least middle aged to need money and want to join the squid game. But the world has changed. Now I feel that there are less decent jobs for young people and they feel that hard work won’t even get them to the middle class. They want to hit the jackpot, so they invest in cryptocurrency. In Korea, there are many young people in their early 20s or 30s who turn to online gambling. I wanted to show how society really is today.

Lee Jung-jae in a scene from “Squid Game”. (No Ju-han/Netflix via AP)

AP: Season two of “Squid Game” has already been nominated for a Golden Globe, which is a good sign. Can you tell us about season three of “Squid Game”?

HWANG: It’s better than season two.