'Squid Game' season 2: cast, plot, trailer and everything we know so far

Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk says Lee Jung-jae will return as main character Seong Gi-hun

Green light, red light game played in 'Squid Game'. Photo: Netflix

A scene from 'Squid Game'.

In the Netflix show, participants die when they fail to complete the games.

Oh Yeong-su plays Oh Il-nam, an elderly man with a brain tumour.

Jung HoYeon and Heo Sung-tae play characters who risk their lives to compete for the prize money.

Lee Jung-jae as lead character Seong Gi-hun, a gambling addict.

Anupam Tripathi as Pakistani worker Ali Abdul.

The show has been a runaway hit for Netflix since it premiered on September 21.

In 'Squid Game', players compete in adapted versions of popular children’s playground games in the hope of freeing themselves from financial burden.

Jung HoYeon plays a North Korean defector in the series.

Masked enforcers ensure losers from each game are duly eliminated.

It was the surprise South Korean hit that became Netflix’s most-watched show and after confirmation of a second season, fans are eagerly awaiting the return of Squid Game.

On Sunday, the streaming platform released a 10-second teaser trailer showing Young-hee, the show's much-recognisable motion-sensing, animatronic doll. The caption simply reads: "Red light…GREENLIGHT! Squid Game is officially coming back for season 2!"

However, no details were revealed about the coming season.

Along with the teaser trailer, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk also shared a special message in which he thanked fans for watching Squid Game and making it the most popular show ever on Netflix. "Thank you for watching and loving our show," he wrote.

He also dropped a few hints about season two, including the return of familiar characters and the introduction of new ones.

Back in March, Hwang shared that he had some ideas for the new season but hadn't officially started putting it together yet.

“There will be more great games, that’s all I can say,” Hwang said in an interview with Deadline entertainment news website. “I’m just still brainstorming and collecting the ideas for season two. I haven’t even started with the writing yet.”

So while it still might be a bit away, here’s everything we know so far about the coming season.

When will 'Squid Game' season two be released?

As of yet, no date has been revealed and likely won't be for a while. Back in November, Hwang told the Associated Press that there had been pressure and demand for another season that he felt like he “had no choice” but to continue on.

“I will say there will indeed be a second season. It’s in my head right now. I’m in the planning process currently,” he said.

Who is in the cast of the second season?

For those who binge-watched the show, they’ll know that a majority of the characters introduced over the course of the nine-episode first season have died.

Hwang has however confirmed that main character Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) will return in season two.

“I do think it’s too early to say when and how that’s going to happen. So I will promise you this, Gi-hun will come back. He will do something for the world,” Hwang told the Associated Press during a red carpet event.

However, as mentioned above, The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) will also be back with the possibility of seeing the game recruiter (Gong Yoo) again. There will also be the introduction of Young-hee's boyfriend, Cheol-su — but in what capacity remains to be seen.

Hwang also hinted that he could find creative ways to bring back past characters such as HoYeon Jung who played Kang Sae-byeok, aka Player 067, during the Producers Guild Awards on Saturday.

“I’ll try something to bring them back to season two," Hwang said. "Let’s say maybe [Kang] has a twin sister, you’ll see."

"I could change my hair colour. Let’s do a little like plastic surgery," the actress responded.

What is ‘Squid Game’ about and why is it so popular?

In 'Squid Game', contestants play a deadly game for a cash prize. Photo: Netflix

The first season of the show started in September 2021 and became a global phenomenon. It was the top watched show in 94 countries, with more than 142 million households tuning it and 1.65 billion viewing hours during its first four weeks, becoming the streaming platform’s most-watched show.

The premise of Squid Game follows 456 debt-ridden and desperate people who play classic Korean children’s games in the hope of winning a cash prize — however, the losers are often executed at the end of each game. The first season followed a group of people with Lee’s Seong becoming the winner of 45.6 billion South Korean won ($38.5 million) after turning out the sole survivor of the violent competition.

After being broadcast on Netflix, the show also had its moment in pop culture as it spawned memes, had its obstacle courses re-created in real life by YouTube star Mr Beast and its player uniforms became the top searched Halloween outfit in 2021. Abu Dhabi's Korean Cultural Centre also hosted an event allowing fans to enjoy the games from the show in order to promote Korean culture.

It was also reported that the survival show struck a chord with many South Koreans, where many people are burdened by debt and escaping relative poverty can feel impossible.

Real-life 'Squid Game' in Abu Dhabi — in pictures

Mohamed as The Front Man, left, with a guard during the Squid Game event at the Korean Cultural Centre at twofour54 in Abu Dhabi. All Photos: Victor Besa / The National

The Squid Game event was held only over one day and featured 15 participants competing against one another in two sessions at the Korean Cultural Centre

Players who did not successfully complete the challenge get 'shot' with soft sponge toy guns to signal their elimination

In the dalgona game, players tried to cut out a preset shape in the honeycomb toffee without breaking it

Players were required to sign a paper agreeing to the rules before beginning the games – just like in the show

The guards kept their eyes on everyone

The honeycomb toffee game, also known as the dalgona game, has become a viral trend on its own

A Squid Game guard holds up the South Korean and UAE flags at the Korean Cultural Centre

The Korean Cultural Centre presented players with the same card as seen on the hit show

Tin boxes with snacks were distributed to players after the Squid Game event

Players begin playing green light, red light at the Korean Cultural Centre

Two players face off to play Ttakji during the Squid Game event at the Korean Cultural Centre

Two other players compete in a marble game to see who can get their marble closest to the circle

Nam Chan-woo, director of the Korean Cultural Centre, before the start of the Squid Game event

Players get ready to play green light, red liight

Those who were eliminated had to put on skull stickers over the numbers on their shirt

The Korean Cultural Centre's version of glass stepping stones mean that players had to guess the right combination of numbers to cross over

The guards for the Squid Game event at the Korean Cultural Centre

A player takes a photo ahead of the event at the Korean Cultural Centre