Netflix's most-watched series is no longer only a fictitious television show after the streaming service greenlit "its biggest reality competition ever" called Squid Game: The Challenge.
Unlike the series where the stakes are life or death, the worst possible fate in this 456-player competition will be leaving without the $4.56 million winnings, which Netflix claims is the largest lump sum prize in reality TV history.
Squid Game became Netflix's most-watched series when it was released in September 2021. It told the story of cash-strapped contestants who play popular Korean children's games for a chance to win life-changing sums of money.
The first season holds the record as Netflix’s most popular series of all time, with more than 1.65 billion hours viewed in its first 28 days, the company said.
The 10-episode reality competition will include games inspired by the original show, as well as new additions, Netflix said.
One of YouTube’s top US creators, MrBeast, did an unofficial iteration of this idea by recreating aspects of the South Korean drama’s set and hosting games featured in the show, such as Red Light, Green Light. The YouTuber also opted out of the killing aspect but strapped a device to all 456 players that mimicked a bullet fired when a player was ruled out.
Netflix’s reality show will be filmed in the UK and is currently only casting English speakers.
The announcement comes only days after the scripted series was renewed for a second season.
“And now, Gi-hun returns,” director, writer and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk wrote in a letter to fans. “The Front Man returns. Season 2 is coming.”
Hwang revealed teasers about new characters and developments in his letter for season two.
“The man in the suit with ddakji might be back,” he wrote, referring to the mysterious man who recruits players.
Viewers will also meet Cheol-su, the “boyfriend” of Young-hee, the show's much-recognisable animatronic doll.
— The National contributed to this report
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
