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Squid Game 2021
Squid Game is a South Korean dystopian survival thriller drama television series created, written, and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk for Netflix. The show features a secret competition where 456 participants, all facing severe financial difficulties, compete in a series of children's games that lead to death if they are eliminated, in hopes of winning a large prize. The name of the series references ("squid"), a traditional Korean children's game. Lee Jung-jae, who plays the main character Seong Gi-hun, is part of the main cast.
Hwang developed Squid Game inspired by personal financial struggles and observations about class differences and capitalism in South Korea. He drafted the concept in 2009 but was unable to secure funding until Netflix became interested around 2019 as part of a strategy to grow international content. Hwang personally wrote and directed every episode.
The first season of Squid Game premiered globally on September 17, 2021, gaining widespread critical praise and global attention. It became Netflix's most viewed series and earned multiple awards, including six Primetime Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe. The second season was released on December 26, 2024, followed by the third and final season on June 27, 2025. The last two seasons, produced consecutively, received generally favorable reviews from critics but were seen as weaker than the original. Squid Game has emerged as one of Netflix's leading productions.
Cast
- Lee Jung-jaeSeong Gi-hun
- Lee Byung-hun[[Front Man
- Wi Ha-joonHwang Jun-ho
- Park Hae-soo[[Cho Sang-woo
- Jung Ho-yeonKang Sae-byeok
- O Yeong-suOh Il-nam
- Heo Sung-taeJang Deok-su
- Anupam TripathiAli Abdul
- Kim Joo-ryoungHan Mi-nyeo
- Lee Yoo-mi[[Ji-yeong
- Lee Seo-hwanPark Jung-bae
- Yim Si-wanLee Myung-gi
- Kang Ha-neulKang Dae-ho
- Park Sung-hoonCho Hyun-ju
- Lee Jin-wookPark Gyeong-seok
- Yang Dong-geunPark Yong-sik
- Jo YuriKim Jun-hee
- Kang Ae-shimJang Geum-ja
- Park Gyu-youngKang No-eul
- Lee DavidPark Min-su
- T.O.P[[Thanos
- Roh Jae-wonNam-gyu
- Won Ji-anSe-mi
- Song Young-changIm Jeong-dae
- Kim Si-eunKim Young-mi
- Park Hee-soonThe Masked Officer
- Jeon Seok-hoChoi Woo-seok
- Oh Dal-suSea Captain Park
- David SayersVIP Richard
- Jane WongVIP Jennifer
- Bryan BuccoVIP John
- Jordan LambertoniVIP Jack
- Kevin YornVIP Kevin
- UnknownKim Jun-hee's Baby
- Cate Blanchettthe American Recruiter
Crew
- Director
- Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Creator
- Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Writer
- Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Producer
- Han Heung-seok, Kim Ji-eun (season 2)
- Executive producer
- Bona, Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Cinematography
- Lee Hyung-deok (season 1), Kim Ji-yong (season 2)
- Music
- Jung Jae-il
Details
- Production
- Siren Pictures Inc.
- Network
- Netflix
