Netflix announces real-life ‘Squid Game’ competition series

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Netflix announced the reality competition series Squid Game: The Challenge, based on the original Squid Game series, which became Netflix’s most popular show of all time upon its release in late 2021.  The platform announced casting for the new series in a vague promo on TwitterSquid Game: The Challenge will enter 456 contestants for the grand prize of $4.56 million dollars. That’s the same number of contestants in the drama, but an American dollar adaptation of the show’s 45.6 billion won prize in Korean money.  The reality series is looking ‘for brave, self-punishing souls interested in competing in harrowing games’.  For information on casting for the show, head to www.squidgamecasting.com.

The original Squid Game series is about a competition of childhood games for a cash prize, such as Red Light Green Light, Honeycomb and Marbles.  Netflix promises some games inspired by the show on the reality version, plus new surprises.  On the drama, the losers are executed; and while Netflix hasn’t announced how they plan to adapt the game, the streaming service confirms contestants could be “going home empty-handed” (meaning- they will not die if they lose).

Netflix had also just announced last week that they have renewed Squid Game for Season 2.  The original series, created by South Korean director Hwang Dong-hyuk, primarily starred Korean actors who spoke Korean throughout the show; whereas Squid Game: The Challenge is seeking “English-language speakers from any part of the world.”

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