Despite losing teeth due to stress and reportedly receiving insufficient compensation for the show's success, the creator of Squid Game, Hwang Dong-hyuk, has announced the return of the hit Netflix series for a second season.
- November 11, 2024
AceShowbiz - "Squid Game" creator Hwang Dong-hyuk had no qualm about admitting that money was a huge factor in his decision to make a second season. "Honestly, I didn't make much from the first season," Hwang told the BBC. "So doing the second series will help compensate me for the success of the first one."
Hwang claimed that he was paid upfront for "Squid Game" and received no bonus for its massive popularity. He reportedly "forfeited all intellectual property rights and received no residuals" from the show, which is estimated to be worth $900 million.
Besides the financial reason, he added, "I didn't fully finish the story." The follow-up story is now set to return for a second season on December 26.
Hwang recalled the immense stress he experienced during the first season which took years in the making, claiming he lost "eight or nine" teeth due to the pressure. "The stress I feel is much greater," he said of making the second installment. "I haven't seen my dentist yet, but I'll probably have to pull out a few more very soon."
Despite the financial issues, Hwang remains committed to the show's message, inspired by his experiences during the 2009 global financial crisis. He believes that his portrayal of modern capitalism is straightforward and challenges viewers to question the current societal divide.
"When making this series, I constantly asked myself, 'Do we humans have what it takes to steer the world off this downhill path?' Honestly, I don't know," Hwang said. "New lines are being drawn. We're in an era of us vs them. Who's right and who's wrong?"
