Squid Game, most popular Korean show, has come to its conclusion and it is a bittersweet feeling for fans as they have to goodbye to their favourite show. The ending has shocked the viewers with the death of many beloved characters. The final episode of the international hit Korean show featured a surprising cameo from Hollywood star Cate Blanchett, hinting at an American spin-off of the violent survival game.
Popular Australian actor Cate Blanchett, who is known for her several successful Hollywood projects, had a cameo in Squid Game Season 3 in the last episode. She appeared in the episode as The Recruiter, who was seen playing ddakji with a man. Later, she saw The Frontman and smiled at him before resuming to play ddakji again. Even though the cameo is described as a “special appearance”, it clearly indicates that the story is not over.
In a candid chat with Variety, Director Hwang Dong-hyuk opened up about the ending and said, “When I had a vague idea about what kind of story I wanted to tell through Seasons 2 and 3, I actually had a different ending in mind. As I went through the writing process, as I created my characters, as I laid out the foundation and the outline of the story, and as I drew out the map for Gi-hun’s character arc, I realised, this shouldn’t be the way this story ends, and this is a better ending, or the right ending, for this arc. And so there was actually a very drastic change in the ending compared to when I just had only a vague idea about the story, and then when I really got into the writing process.”
He further stated, “In the finale, Gi-hun makes a choice, and originally, when I was just thinking about where the story was going to take me, it was actually the exact opposite choice.”
Hwang Dong-hyuk shared the idea behind the cameo, “We shot our parts separately with just a camera going back and forth. In the end, we parted ways without even saying hi.”
“I guess you could say that in a way, because when you watch the finale, while it has a true closure, I think you can still feel a sense of some kind of longing or lingering. So I think, maybe, someday, if the opportunity allows and the timing is right, maybe there’s room for other stories,” Hwang concluded.
With Season 3 coming to an end, all eyes are now on its sequel Squid Game: America.
According to reports, the filming of squid game spin-off is set to begin in December, with David Fincher coming onboard as the director. This time the script is being written by Dennis Kelly, who is known for complex stories like Utopia.
Squid Game: America will be a completely new chapter it will not be a direct sequel to the Korean version, but will definitely be inspired by the same universe. It will draw from the mythology and structure built over the first three seasons.
Reports suggest that the story will explore the American arm of the deadly competition and will peel back the layers of the global organization that controls the game. Shooting will take place in Los Angeles, where the Korean season 3 ended.
Currently, all three seasons of Squid Game are available for streaming on Netflix. The final season stars Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Wi Ha-jun, Park Gyu-young, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Jo Yu-ri, Chae Kuk-hee, Lee David, Roh Jae-won, and Jun Suk-ho.
