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'They will be back': 'Squid Game' creator confirms return of key characters for Season 2

Speaking at the Contenders Television at Paramount Studios, 'Squid Game' creator Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed the return of two key characters

BY ARVIND RAO

PUBLISHED APR 11, 2022

Hwang Dong-hyuk speaks onstage during THR Awards Chatter Podcast Chapman University Taping at Chapman University (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Netflix)

Hwang Dong-hyuk has been around for quite some time but it's 'Squid Game' that rocketed him to fame. Inspired by his own experiences and economic struggles, the survival drama revolved around a contest where people in dire financial straits, 456 of them to specific, played a bunch of children's games for a chance to win a cash prize of $38 million. However, there is a catch to it. One pays with their life should he/she lose at any point.

In many ways a remark on the class disparity in South Korea, the series created by Dong-hyuk garnered worldwide attention, overtaking 'Bridgerton' to become the most-viewed show on Netflix. With a cast led by Lee Jung-jae, 'Squid Game' was also the first Korean drama to top Netflix's Top 10 weekly most-watched shows globally. Talks of a second season started doing the rounds around October 2021 and were confirmed a month later by Dong-hyuk, but he didn't have anything concrete to say about the return of Jung-jae or any other star.

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Breaking his silence on the topic for the first time, Dong-hyuk, during the Deadline Contenders Television, revealed that two major characters would be returning. "Gi-hun for sure. He will be back and I believe the Front Man will be back too," Dong-hyuk said. Though the return of the characters was expected, this is the first public acknowledgment from the 'Squid Game' creator's end. He had also teased the return of HoYeon Jung, a North Korean refugee contestant, a couple of weeks ago, hinting that she would return as her "evil twin sister."

Hwang Dong-hyuk went on to talk about his hopes for the show to break the language barrier. "My hope is that a work like 'Squid Game' in a little way has opened the door. I hope the American audiences give the piece a chance and that you read the subtitles and watch without dubbing. We're hoping that we open that opportunity," Dong-hyuk said.

Season 2 of 'Squid Game' is expected to release by 2024.