Squid Game director Hwang Dong Hyuk opened up about the challenges and pressure he faced while working on Season 2 of the hit series.
During a press conference for Squid Game Season 2 on August 1st in Seoul, Hwang Dong Hyuk and CEO Kim Ji Yeon discussed various topics about the new season.
Since its release on Netflix in 2021, Squid Game has been a global phenomenon, breaking records with 1.65 billion hours of viewing in just four weeks. It became Netflix's most-watched show ever and made history as the first non-English series to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy, winning 6 awards, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Lee Jung-jae.
At the press conference, Hwang Dong Hyuk revealed the immense pressure he felt creating Season 2. He said, "Season 1 was so successful, so trying to make Season 2 even better has been a huge challenge. I won’t know how it’s fully received until it’s out, but I can say making this season wasn’t easy."
He continued, "The expectations were high, so the pressure was intense. I think I worked harder on this than any other project. Based on the post-production work, I feel my effort shows, and personally, I think Season 2 turned out really well."
Hwang also shared that he wrote the script himself but had support from the CEO, producers, and assistant writers. He added, "I wish I had a writer I’d worked with before, but it was difficult to find one. We had to finish the script quickly and start filming, which made it hard to find someone."
In a lighthearted moment, he revealed, "I had 8 teeth ground down. During filming, I started having toothaches and had to take medication. I’m afraid to go back to the dentist, though, so they’ll probably say I need to pull more teeth."
The director also spoke about the themes of Season 2, saying, "After Season 1 came out, people asked, 'Why do you think Squid Game became so popular?' I answered, 'Maybe the world is as hard as the world in Squid Game.' Three years later, things haven't gotten better. The climate crisis is worsening, and global conflicts are growing. In Season 2, I want to explore whether we have the power to change this world. The answer is unclear, but I want to talk about hope. The new games will focus on cooperation, leading to even more dramatic moments."
Finally, Hwang Dong Hyuk expressed his hopes for the new season, saying, "I hope it gets good reviews and people will watch it. The competition is tougher now, but I’m not obsessed with breaking records. I believe this season is better than Season 1. It’s deeper and more intense, so I’d love to hear praise for its completeness. If that happens, I’ll be satisfied, even if we don’t break any records."
With excitement building around Squid Game globally, fans are eagerly waiting to see what happens in Season 2. The new season will feature a dramatic battle between Gi-hun (Lee Jung Jae), who returns to the game for revenge, and the Front Man (Lee Byung Hun). The real game will begin again, and fans can expect even more shocking moments. Squid Game Season 2 will be released on Netflix on December 26.
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