Squid Game season 3 almost had a happy ending, says director Hwang Dong-hyuk
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, in a press interview held in Seoul's Samcheong-dong (via The Korea Herald), said the show could have ended differently.
'When I first started thinking about the second season, I had a vague idea that Gi-hun would return to the game, maybe to destroy it or at least help a few people escape and then go to see his daughter in the US,' he shared.
But the story changed. As Hwang began writing, he realised that the real message of the show had to go deeper. Gi-hun's tragic fate, he said, matched the harsh reality many people face today.
Themes, removed games, and Blanchett's surprise role
Hwang said the world had become darker since the first season aired. 'Compared to when I created Season 1, the world has gotten even worse. Economic inequality has deepened. Wars continue to escalate with no sign of ending,' he explained.
Welcome back, Player 067. Jung Ho-yeon on set for her return cameo in Squid Game Season 3. pic.twitter.com/N99d0M7Ncq
He felt that Gi-hun, an ordinary man, had to face that same pain. The show, he said, always aimed to reflect society's flaws, and a happy ending would not match today's world.
On the game design, Hwang said choosing the right ones was tricky. Some childhood games were rejected because they lacked enough drama or didn't support character moments. One idea involved rock-paper-scissors, while another tied players to a conveyor belt, but both were dropped. He kept tag, though, and made it a deadly battle between contestants in the fourth game to create strong emotional tension.
One moment that caught fans off guard was Cate Blanchett's cameo. She played a recruiter in the US who was seen playing ddakji with a new participant. Hwang said he wanted to switch things up and cast someone powerful for that final scene. 'She's someone I've always admired,' he said, adding that it was a perfect short but memorable role.
Although the ending hints at a possible US sequel, Hwang dismissed that idea for now. He said he does not plan to continue Gi-hun's story but is open to a spinoff. One idea could explore the masked men's private lives or even the backstory behind the Front Man and his photo from Captain Park's house.
For now, Hwang feels the main story is complete. Squid Game may have ended on a sad note, but it reflects exactly what the director wanted to say about the world.
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