South Korean film director, Hwang Dong-hyuk, never planned for Netflix’s Squid Game to have a third season.
However, as the story unfolded, what was initially intended to be a total of eight episodes for season two evolved into 13.
It’s why the 54-year-old split the third series into two and decided that the finale of the entire show was imminent.
Squid Game is a South Korean dystopian survival thriller horror series where 456 players in deep financial hardship are invited to enter a secret contest, where they risk their lives to play a series of dangerous children’s games for a ₩45.6 billion ($39.86 million) cash prize.
But when Seong Gi-hun — also known as Player 456 — portrayed by South Korean actor and The Acolyte star Lee Jung-jae, 52, realises that losing a game gets you killed and contributes ₩100 million ($87,400) to the grand total, he builds alliances with other players to try and survive.
After winning the game previously, the divorced father and gambling addict vows to take revenge on the enigmatic leader Hwang In-ho, who oversees the contest as the Front Man, played by 54-year-old G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra actor Lee Byung-hun. Gi-hun plans to end the games for good.
In the third and final season, more dangerous games are used to test Gi-hun, who has hit rock bottom, and the surviving players.
With each round, they are pushed to new moral high grounds, where their choices can lead them to increasingly greater consequences.
Will Gi-hun make the right decisions, or will the Front Man finally break his spirit and prove that there is no way he can end the game? These are the questions Dong-Hyuk presents to Squid Game’s global audience.
The final series also stars South Korean actress Park Gyu-young, 31, who stars as Kang No-eul, South Korean actor Kang Ha-neul, 35, who portrays Kang Dae-ho, and South Korean actor Park Sung-hoon, 40, as Cho Hyun-ju.
Dong-hyuk and Jung-jae talk about their favourite aspect of the Squid Game universe and what they will miss the most about working on the Primetime Emmy Award-winning show.
HOW DOES DRAMATIC IRONY IMPACT THE SHOW IN SEASON 3, BECAUSE WE, THE AUDIENCE, KNOW THE IDENTITY OF THE FRONT MAN, BUT 456 DOES NOT?
HWANG DONG-HYUK: That was actually a very important factor and tool as a means of entertainment. But in seasons two and three, I wanted to sort of flip that around, where we again have the same player number one.
We all know that the audience knows that we are all in on the secret. I thought that by having the audience on our side, it could create a different type and sense of tension, as well as adding elements to the story. And that’s one of the main differences between seasons two and three.
In season three, I think it’s going to really encourage the audience to look forward to when and how people will find out, and how that will affect their decisions.
WHAT WAS THE HARDEST SCENE OR GAME TO SHOOT IN SERIES THREE?
LEE JUNG-JAE: Some games are very physically demanding, and others are very emotionally demanding. And if I look at all of the games from all the way back in season one, all the way to season three, each of them has its unique colour. And I have different memories of each game.
As actors, we were also able to feel such a wide range of different emotions for each game. And I think that means that that’s just how much of a wide range of emotions we wanted the audience to feel along the way, as well.
Physically speaking, the red light, green light game was quite demanding. In season one, I went into the shooting of the game, not knowing really what to expect, both emotionally and physically. At times, I would feel awkward, and it was quite challenging.
But then in season two, when we shot red light, green light again, I had to play this role of having to convince the players to listen to me. So I would always be screaming at the top of my lungs. I almost felt like a classroom president trying to quiet down this loud, huge classroom.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SAYING GOODBYE TO SUCH AN IMPORTANT SHOW IN YOUR LIFE?
LEE JUNG-JAE: I have a lot of great memories to say the least, but I would have to say it’s seeing and witnessing the responses from our global fans. I will never forget it until the day I die.
I’m also addicted to all those crazy memes. So I’m waiting for what’s to come with season three.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ASPECT OF THE SQUID GAME UNIVERSE?
LEE JUNG-JAE: When you are watching Squid Game, the questions are asked in dialogue, and the answers are shown through the actions of the characters; this is what I think.
And I like the fact that these questions are asked in a very direct manner, because dialogue in a live-action series is very different, so it is up to each viewer to come up with their conclusions.
HWANG DONG-HYUK: The circle, square and triangle were the shapes that first came to mind when I conceived of the idea of Squid Game. I was thinking of myself as a kid playing that particular game.
They are the shapes that you draw on the ground when you play Squid Game. They have also come to represent the limitless competition in capitalism. It is also used to show the different classes among the mass guards.
When I first thought of those shapes, I thought it was quite a peculiar discovery that I’ve made, but I’m just really drawn to it.
Season three of Squid Game comes to Netflix on Friday, June 27
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