Three years after Squid Game took the world by storm, Netflix has fans on the edge of their seats with the release of the latest trailer for season 2. The sneak peek confirms the return of Seong Gi-hun, portrayed by Lee Jung-jae of Star Wars: The Acolyte fame, as he plunges back into the deadly contest that captivated global audiences.
In a significant departure from his previous passive role in Squid Game season 1, Gi-hun takes an active stance against the game’s operators right from the outset. “Gi-hun’s purpose is not to play the game, but to go after those who have created the game and put a stop to it. Compared to every other participant within the game and also himself in season 1, the approach that he takes is going to be very different this time around. It could almost be described as a game-within-a-game for Gi-hun,” Jung-jae tells Entertainment Weekly.
The trailer shows him sabotaging the game by revealing tactics for the notorious Red Light, Green Light game to new players. He attempts to persuade the new contestants to abandon the game, although many opt to continue, driven by desperation or greed.
This act of defiance compels the game’s overseer, the Front Man, played by Lee Byung-hun (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra), who is determined to see Gi-hun fail in any subsequent rounds, to revise the entire tournament structure. The updated rules of the game introduce a democratic but perilous twist: after each round, players can vote to end the game and leave with their current winnings.
The new season of Squid Game not only revisits familiar elements like the Red Light, Green Light game but also introduces new games, rooted in simple children’s games from Korea, adding a layer of nostalgia and accessibility for a global audience. Series director Hwang Dong-hyuk explains that these games will resonate universally, as similar versions exist worldwide, enhancing the relatability and horror of the deadly stakes.
Squid Game quickly became a cultural phenomenon with its gripping portrayal of societal desperation and the lengths to which people will go for financial salvation. Following its immense success, Netflix swiftly confirmed a second season and has plans to conclude the series with a third season in 2025.
As season 2 of Squid Game unfolds, viewers can anticipate a series of cunning strategies, alliances, and betrayals, all wrapped in the high-stakes drama that defines the series. With Gi-hun now actively working against the orchestrators of the game, the new season is set to delve deeper into the dark underpinnings of the human psyche and the savage extremities of survival games.
Squid Game season 2 premieres on 26 December on Netflix.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Sylus from Love and Deepspace.
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