Warning! This article contains spoilers for Squid Game season 3.
The massive Hollywood cameo inSquid Gameseason 3’s ending almost seems to have confirmed the Netflix franchise’s potential future. WhenSquid Gameseason 3was announced as the viralNetflix Korean show’s final season, it was hard to believe that the streaming giant was willing to loosen its grip on such a profitable IP so soon. However, even beforeSquid Gameseason 2 landed on Netflix, many rumors surrounding its potential future started emerging.
While some rumors suggested that the show would have a full-fledged Hollywood remake, others revolved around the show’s original creator expanding the show’s original lore. There were also some intriguing speculations about a renowned and highly acclaimed Hollywood director hopping on board as the showrunner ofSquid Game’s potential reboot/spinoff. Only time will tell what the future holds for the Netflix franchise, but after season 3, it seems likely that it is far from over.
Squid Game’s Final Scene Confirms That The Games Will Never Be Stopped
The Scene Reveals A Terrifying Truth About The Games
BeforeSquid Gameseason 3’s endingcredits start rolling, it features a sequence in which the Front Man drives down a street in the US. When he looks out of his window, he finds an eerily familiar sight:a woman in a tuxedo plays the iconic Ddakji with a man and slaps him every time he fails to flip the envelope in the game. The scene confirms that even though the Front Man destroyed the island where his version of the games were being held and seemingly hung his boots as their chief organizer, the games have not ended.
The woman in the sequence is portrayed as another recruiter/saleswoman whose job, like Gong Yoo’s character, is to find potential contestants for the games.She is surprisingly portrayed by Cate Blanchett, who previously had nothing to do with Netflix’sSquid Gameuniverse. Blanchett’s appearance in Squid Game season 3’s final moments seemingly highlights that the games the show has portrayed so far were not the only ones happening in the show’s universe. They were merely a part of a twisted system with its roots spreading far beyond South Korea.
…The characters from the original show did not even scratch the surface of the overarching organization’s true reach and influence.
This revelation is both exciting and haunting at the same time. It is exciting because it hints at the scale of theSquid Gameuniverse and also shows how the franchise could potentially expand beyond season 3. However, it also makes the franchise’s core story a lot more terrifying because it reveals that despite Gi-hun and Jun-ho’s best efforts to end the games for good, the characters from the original show did not even scratch the surface of the overarching organization’s true reach and influence.
Cate Blanchett’s Squid Game Cameo Teases The Rumored American Spinoff
The Spin-Off Has Been Rumored For Quite Some Time
There have been several rumors surroundingSquid Game’s potential American remake. Some intriguing rumors even suggested that David Fincher was being considered to helm the show’s Hollywood spin-off. After Cate Blanchett’s appearance inSquid Gameseason 3’s finale, it seems like the American remake of the Korean show might finally happen. Given how Gong Yoo, who played theSalesman inSquid Game’s seasons 1 and 2, was among the biggest stars in the original series,it would make sense if the remake featured a renowned Oscar-winning actress in the same role.
It must be noted, however, that even though the final sequence fromSquid Gameseason 3 sets up a potential story expansion, it does not confirm that Cate Blanchett will be a part of the reboot. Blanchett might have only made a cameo appearance to tease the broader scope of theSquid Gameuniverse without having any long-term commitment to the hinted spin-off. However, if the acclaimed actress does play a role in an American remake of the series, it would make it all the more exciting, especially if David Fincher is its showrunner.
There Are Currently No Confirmed Plans For An American Squid Game Spinoff
Netflix Does Not Plan To Announce A Spin-Off
There have been a lot of mixed reports surrounding the speculated American Squid Game spin-off. While some sources suggest that the show is already deep in development, others say that David Fincher’s involvement with the project has been confirmed. Several reports also call attention toFincher’s 4-year exclusive deal with Netflix, speculating that theSquid Gamereboot could be a part of the collaboration between the director and the streamer.
22
3
Budget
US $21.4 million in season 1 and ₩100 billion in seasons 2 & 3
Streaming On
Netflix
However, as the latest reports (viaVariety), have revealed,Netflix currently has no plans of officially announcing a full-fledgedSquid Gamespinoff/reboot. Owing to Cate Blanchett’s cameo and the franchise’s popularity, the streamer is thinking about theSquid GameIP’s future. But until Netflix releases official news surrounding the franchise’s potential installments, everything seemingly remains speculative and should be treated as such.
What An American Squid Game Would Look Like
The American Spinoff’s Fate Would Depend On A Lot Of Factors
If, hypothetically, David Fincher helms aSquid Gamereboot with Cate Blanchett as one of its cast members, the potential spinoff could become even better than the original series. Fincher’s movies, likeFight ClubandThe Killer, have always been packed with subtle criticisms of capitalism and overconsumption. He could portray something similar with his take onSquid Gameand put his filmmaking experience on full display.
Squid Game’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, also has his own spin-off ideathat would revolve around “what the recruiters or Captain Park (Oh Dal-su) or officers or masked men were doing"between the original show’s seasons 1 and 2.
The director also has an impressive track record and has helmed several acclaimed movies, likeGone Girl,The Social Network,Zodiac, andSeven, among several others. With his creative vision,Squid Gamecould evolve into something far beyond a straightforward portrayal of social inequality and humanity’s darker tendenciesin the face of extreme danger. With an Academy Award-winning actress like Cate Blanchett as one of its most intriguing characters, the spin-off could further elevate itself above the original in many respects.
If any other extensions of the franchise seem subpar compared to the original show, Netflix could risk ruining the IP and even diminishing its initial cultural impact.
Viewership data from 2024-25confirmed thatSquid Gameis easily one of the most valuable IPs for Netflix. Owing to this, it makes sense for Netflix to expand the franchise, but alsoputs immense pressure on the streamer to treat it right. If any other extensions of the franchise seem subpar compared to the original show, Netflix could risk ruining the IP and even diminishing its initial cultural impact. This is why if an American Squid Game sees the light of the way, it must tread carefully and ensure it both honors and enhances the original show.
Squid Game
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
