The Squid Game Universe is expanding. After the finale of the thrilling Netflix series, fans have noticed a huge giveaway about the future of the series.
The last couple of minutes of Squid Game Season 3 show the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) driving past a woman who plays ddakji with a homeless man in Los Angeles. The woman (Cate Blanchett) exchanges glances with the Front Man, opening a door for a spinoff series.
However, the cliffhanger sparked a lot of backlash with OG Squid Game fans. The show deals with the complications of capitalism, poverty, gambling, and by extension, U.S. imperialism, and fans think that the show has strayed away from its compelling themes and criticism of the system.
One fan wrote, “squid game started with such meaning and as a huge anti-capitalism movement then grew as a cash cow for netflix and ended its last season promoting a squid game usa version as a way to make them even more money from a story that should’ve ended on season 1… we’ll never win.” Other fans agreed, “I feel like squid game was good because it was a KOREAN based series, including Korean child games that alot of people didn’t know about, I feel like the USA version is going to be awful and like any other reality tv show.”
Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk responded to the ending in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I didn’t end it on that note in order to deliberately leave room for further stories to happen,” he said. “Gi-hun and Front Man, through these characters, the Games in Korea have ended. And because this story started out with me wanting to tackle issues about the limitless competition and the system that’s created in late capitalism, I wanted to leave it on a note highlighting the fact that these systems, even if one comes down, it’s not easy to dismantle the whole system — it will always repeat itself.”
Deadline confirmed that David Fincher would be spearheading an English-language version of Squid Game in 2023. Fincher is behind many great Netflix shows like House of Cards and Mindhunter. With the series in the making, here are some familiar faces that could be cast for Squid Game USA.
Cate Blanchett will most likely return to be the Recruiter in Squid Game USA. On her casting, Hwang said, “There’s only one line, so we needed someone who had that level of presence and charisma to completely dominate the screen in that instant. And that naturally led me to Cate Blanchett. I’ve always been a fan of hers. She’s someone who can instantly grab your attention with a single stare. So that’s how we set on her.”
She’s the voice behind Mira in the other Netflix hit KPop Demon Hunters and a mainstay in Teen Wolf and Arden Cho could be a great casting choice.
Actress Rooney Mara is a frequent Fincher collaborator as she starred in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Social Network. Whether a player or someone behind the scenes, she can make the case for a thrilling storyline.
Walton Goggins is one of Reddit’s favorites for a fan cast. After his portrayal of Rick Hatchett on The White Lotus, fans have wanted to see him in every future TV show.
He’s also one of Netflix’s darlings and a captivating leading man, so it’s no wonder that some people want him to star in Squid Game USA.
Some people are talkng about Chris Pratt starring in the series, and people are saying that it sure would be “something.”
The comedy horror legend seems to be someone’s number one pick in a Reddit thread about familiar faces who can appear in the series.
Ryan Gosling also seems to be a frontrunner for some fans’ hopes for the new American series.
Some fans think that the EGOT winner would “slay as a player.”
Some fans also think that the It antagonist would have what it takes to become a Squid Game protagonist.
