The creator of Squid Game, Hwang Dong-hyuk, says the series hasn’t made him rich. Released in September, Squid Game has quickly become a global phenomenon and one of Netflix’s most popular series of all time. Written and directed by Dong-hyuk, the survival thriller focuses on a deadly contest that involved 456 people from all walks of life who become players in a series of children’s games to win the ultimate cash prize.
Starring Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Gong Yoo, Lee Byung-hun, and HoYeon Jung, Squid Game has solidified its place as a pop culture phenomenon. Recently, Squid Game Halloween costumes sales have spiked, fans have taken to social media to post Squid Game recreations, and Netflix released an official Squid Game merchandise line. Drawn from aspects of Dong-hyuk’s own life, the series features the players attempting to survive six well-known childhood games at the cost of their lives.
Speaking with The Guardian, Dong-hyuk reveals the massive success of Squid Game hasn’t made him very wealthily. Stating that his idea for Squid Game stemmed from the global financial crisis in 2009 that affected his family’s financial situation, Dong-hyuk said Netflix hasn’t paid him a bonus outside of his original contract. However, Dong-hyuk says Squid Game's success on Netflix is “very surprising,” and he feels he has "enough" regardless. Read the director's full comments below:
"I’m not that rich. But I do have enough. I have enough to put food on the table. And it’s not like Netflix is paying me a bonus. Netflix paid me according to the original contract. When I was working on the project, the goal was to rank No 1 on the Netflix US chart for at least a day. But it ended up being much more successful, the most-watched show on Netflix ever. It’s very surprising. It shows that the global audience is resonating with the message I wanted to reflect."
Despite the continuing success of Squid Game, Dong-hyuk has other projects and films in his back pocket from the past decade that he plans on lobbying for Netflix. Of course, Dong-hyuk admits that filming the nine-episode show was so stressful that it took a toll on his mental and physical health (including the loss of six teeth), and he doesn’t seem eager to jump on Squid Game season 2. Although a second installment hasn’t been announced, Dong-hyuk admits he hasn’t ruled out a Squid Game season 2, saying “It’s possible that I have to do season 2 to become as rich as Squid Game’s winner.”
Recently, Netflix revealed that Squid Game had reached nearly two billion minutes in viewership, and the series shows no sign of slowing down. Of course, Squid Game continues to resonate with viewers for being so much more than a series about survival games, as the show explores how desperation can corrode humanity and whether human beings are decent at their core. Reportedly, Netflix is on track to earn an estimated $900 million from Squid Game after paying $21.4 million for the South Korean thriller, and the streaming service should ensure Dong-hyuk receives a handsome payout should Squid Game season 2 come to fruition. For now, the mastermind behind Squid Game is already looking ahead to his next projects.
Source: The Guardian