Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-Hyuk hints that a dead character can return in season 2 as a twin. Netflix's biggest hit in 2021 came from South Korea and centers on a tournament where participants risk their lives to win a large sum of money. The majority of the main cast ultimately died in the end, but a fan-favorite player could be back through a creative workaround.
Inspired by South Korea's penchant for game shows, Squid Game started with 456 players vying for the prize. They play what initially appeared to be harmless, traditional children's games, but each one featured a deadly twist. After six deadly games, not to mention the ever-looming danger from his fellow contestants, Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) was crowned the winner of the latest incarnation of Squid Game's horrifying secret competition. But fans were also invested in other characters, especially HoYeon Jung's Kang Sae-byeok, who was among the last few players who were killed in the game.
Speaking with Deadline during Saturday's PGA Awards ceremony, Hwang was asked about any updates regarding Squid Game season 2, which has been officially announced by Netflix, to the delight of fans. The writer/director stays mum about spoilers and says that there's a slim chance that the follow-up will feature any of the dead players. However, he also teases that he could bring back Jung to play Sae-byeok's twin. Jung, who has won awards for her performance and was with Hwang on the red carpet, laughs about it, suggesting that she could change her looks to come back. Read their answers below:
Hwang: No, because most of them are dead. I’ll try something to bring them back to Season 2. Let’s say maybe she has a twin sister, you’ll see.
Jung: I could change my hair color. Let’s do a little like plastic surgery.
It's unclear if Hwang is actually serious about his comments, but considering how popular Jung became, it isn't outside the realm of possibility. Perhaps Squid Game season 2 can offer new information about Sae-byeok through flashbacks. That would be a great way to creatively incorporate the character again in the South Korean show without undermining her death. Otherwise, the twin route could also be an interesting way in featuring Jung again. For what it's worth, it's safe to say that fans wouldn't mind, considering how beloved her performance was.
Not much is known about its season 2, but the Squid Game season 1 finale set up a clear narrative path for its follow-up. Gi-hun will expectedly be going after the VIPs and everyone else who are running the underground deadly competition. Hwang did say that there will be new games in the series' sophomore year, which means that there will be another set of games with new competitors. But, it wouldn't hurt to see some of the old characters again.
Source: Deadline