What's happened
Hwang Dong-hyuk, creator of 'Squid Game,' shared insights into the upcoming second season, set to premiere on December 26, 2024. He discussed the intense stress of creating the first season, which led to him losing several teeth. The new season will explore deeper themes of morality and justice as protagonist Gi-hun returns to the deadly games.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Sohee Kim from Bloomberg, Hwang revealed the intense stress of creating the first season led to him losing several teeth, stating, "When I am very tired or stressed, I always have gum problems." Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post highlighted that the new season will explore deeper societal issues, with Hwang noting, "I wanted to seriously discuss whether there is hope for us." Business Insider UK reported that financial motivations played a role in Hwang's decision to proceed with the second season, as he stated, "Even though the first series was such a huge global success, honestly, I didn't make much." This sentiment was echoed by Ellie Muir from The Independent, who emphasized that Hwang's initial reluctance was overcome by the need for financial compensation.
How we got here
The first season of 'Squid Game' premiered in September 2021, becoming Netflix's most-watched series with over 1.65 billion hours viewed in its first month. Following its success, Hwang initially hesitated to create a second season due to the stress involved but was motivated by financial necessity.
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