'Squid Game' Creator Reveals He's Lost Over 10 Teeth Filming Netflix Series
Creator, writer, and director Hwang Dong-hyuk recently revealed that he lost about eight teeth filming the first season of the Netflix smash hit, and now he's lost a few more!
A few weeks ahead of the season 3 premiere of 'Squid Game,' Hwang opened up on the stress that he has experienced while creating the Netflix hit. He told Entertainment Weekly that while he lost about 'eight or nine' teeth while making the first season, there were still a few more to go.
"I thought it was going to be okay, but this time I had to pull out two more teeth as well," Hwang told the publication. "I had to pull out about eight teeth in season 1, and now I have two more teeth out, and I haven't put them back in yet. So I'm waiting for them."
Even though it still took a toll on his health, Hwang admitted that it was easier for him to finish seasons 2 and 3, which will wrap up the story of Gi-Hun (also known as Play 456), who Emmy-award-winning actor Lee Jung-jae plays.
"I do already have the universe and the space that I have envisioned come to life, so in a sense, season 2 and season 3 were easier compared to season 1," Hwang explained. "But the problem is that for season 2 and season 3, we had to shoot and write in one go.'
'It was as if we were making one season, and we tried as best as we could to bring in season 3 as fast as possible,' he continued. 'So the total amount was much larger, and we had to shoot for around one year, so it was very physically demanding."
Last year, fans of the hit Netflix series watched Gi-hun lead a failed rebellion against the Front Man, played by Lee Byung-hun. The second season ended on a dramatic note, with the Front Man killing Gi-hun's close friend, Jung-bae, right in front of him. With several contestants still remaining, Hwang teased that the games are going to be more gruesome than ever.
"In the case of season 3, I wanted to introduce games that could really show the lowest bottom of human beings, because the series itself is reaching its climax," Hwang previously told Entertainment Weekly. "I wanted very intense games to bring out the bottom parts of human nature.'
'In season 1, we had lots of games like Tug of War that really utilized height and the fear that this height gives, but in the case of season 2, we didn't have that element,' he explained. 'That is why in season 3, I decided to introduce games that could really infuse fear in people with sheer height."
Although there is a lot of bloodshed in store for his characters, Hwang revealed that 'season 3 is indeed a finale' that may not end in a completely dark place.
"In the case of season 3, I wanted to take a slightly different approach — I wanted to focus on how [people] have to preserve their humanity amidst this intense competition in this capitalistic era," Hwang said.
He went on to say, "I wanted to focus on how we can preserve our sense of humanity and how we should remain humans even amidst this intense competition. I try to pose that as a final question."
Many fans on social media have been expressing their excitement over the show's upcoming third season, with some offering spin-off ideas to keep the "Squid Game" universe alive.
'I don't want the 'Squid Game' era to end. I think you should make a Frontman spin-off. I'm curious to know his story,' one fan commented on a post promoting the final season.
'That's low-key actually a good idea,' another user agreed. 'This is the spin-off we need,' a third fan chimed in, while another follower exclaimed, 'That would be AMAZING!'
'Squid Game' season 3 premieres on Netflix on June 27.
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