Latest news with #Mingle
News18
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Squid Game Cast Reacts To Season 3 Trailer With Surprise Guest T.O.P
Last Updated: Ahead of Squid Game season 3, Lee Byung-hun, Park Sung-hoon, Lee Jung-jae, Kang Ae-sim and director Hwang Dong-hyuk gathered to watch the new trailer. Netflix recently dropped the official trailer for the last season of Squid Game, and fans are hyped. The previous season ended with a cliffhanger after Player 456's attempt to challenge the game's creators didn't succeed. Now, everyone is eager to see what happens in the next instalment. Ahead of the release, cast members Lee Byung-hun, Park Sung-hoon, Lee Jung-jae and Kang Ae-sim, along with director Hwang Dong-hyuk, gathered to watch the new trailer and share their thoughts on it. One surprising moment was when T.O.P, who played Thanos in season 2, appeared with the other cast members. While it's still unclear if his character will return after his demise in the show, fans got excited just seeing him again. Reacting to the trailer, Lee Byung-hun, who plays Front Man, said, 'Wow, so handsome. Why do I look so sad? I think there will be people who get their questions answered by watching this trailer." Park Sung-hoon added, 'The trailer is more desperate, violent and heavy than season 2." Director Hwang Dong-hyuk shared the most insightful moments from Squid Game season 3. He said, 'The Mingle song was a big hit in season 2, so I put this jump rope song here as another attempt to make another hit song for season 3. There's a game set in the streets with a starry sky. I think that it's the most dramatic and impactful game from all seasons. Fans should prepare themselves before watching this game. It's funny to say it looks fun when I created the show. It's a well made trailer without revealing too much, but it contains all the elements from season 3 that invite curiosity and expectations. You'll see things that are beyond your expectations, which I promise fans with confidence." T.O.P's appearance added to the mystery about his potential return. The actor claimed, 'I, Thanos, don't know anything about Season 3. So I'm curious and excited." Squid Game Season 3 starts right after the shocking ending of Season 2. Gi-hun is feeling completely lost and broken, but the deadly games are not over. He is pulled back into the brutal world, where he must make tough choices to survive. The games are even more dangerous now and every decision the players make could lead to serious trouble or even death. At the same time, In-ho is back as the Front Man and continues running the games while welcoming the powerful VIP guests. His brother, Jun-ho, is still trying to find the hidden island where the games take place. But what he doesn't know is that someone close to him may be working against him. As the games go on, Gi-hun has to figure out what to do next. Squid Game season 3 also includes Wi Ha-jun, Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Yang Dong-geun, Jo Yuri, Lee David, Roh Jae-won and Park Gyu-young. First Published: June 05, 2025, 15:34 IST
Business Wire
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Nex Playground Announces Summer of Fun Game Lineup Featuring New Games With Zumba and Sesame Workshop
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nex, the leading motion technology and entertainment company, today announced its Summer 2025 game lineup for Nex Playground, the active play system that gets families moving together. Headlining the slate are two standout partnerships: a delicious and playful puzzle adventure starring Sesame Street's Cookie Monster and a high-energy fitness experience created in collaboration with Zumba®. Together with four additional titles spanning sports, fantasy, and trivia, the lineup builds on Nex Playground's growing catalog of motion games that promote healthy, joyful, and communal active play for everyone in the family. We're committed to building games that resonate with our community, and will continue to build our platform to focus on entertainment that is accessible to the whole family. Share With school out and warmer weather coming, kids and families will enjoy having a variety of indoor activities they can play all summer long. Nex Playground is keeping kids moving this summer with a fresh lineup of games: Sesame Street's Cookie Monster's Cookie Factory – Join Cookie Monster in a fun-filled puzzle adventure. Players take on cookie-themed challenges focused on sorting, pattern recognition, and hand-eye coordination. Team up and work together to solve sweet puzzles and help Cookie Monster keep the nummie, nummie treats under control! Zumba – A first-of-its-kind Zumba® experience that combines immersive motion tracking with gamified scoring and progression. Unlock new songs, styles, and dance moves while progressing through increasingly challenging routines. Developed in collaboration with Zumba's globally renowned brand, this innovative title brings the energy and excitement of the studio straight to your living room. Brainy Inc. – Step into the fast-paced world of a factory floor, where you play as a robot in the final stages of assembly. Before earning your place outside the factory, you'll face a series of challenging tests packed with brain teasers and tricky questions. Outsmart the competition, rack up points, and prove your brilliance to claim the title of the smartest robot at Brainy Inc! Mingle – A vibrant matching game from Cookiecrayon, the creators of Nex Playground's Aeon Guard. Featuring quirky characters and a relaxing pace, the game brings a laid-back charm to the summer lineup. Homerun Heroes: Starstrikers – A third-person baseball batting game. Players swing to strike home runs, smash targets, and unlock a variety of costumes and bats to win the ultimate title of Starstrikers. This game features both 1v1 and 2v2 player modes, so no one's sitting on the bench. Sword Slash Adventure – A storybook-inspired action game where players dive into a whimsical, magical world, battling a variety of monsters to unlock new worlds and engage in boss battles. An evolution of Nex Labs' original Sword Slash title, this expanded adventure includes new boss battles and equipment upgrades. 'We're looking forward to expanding Nex Playground's game library with this summer's diverse and creative lineup,' said David Lee, CEO and Co-Founder of Nex. 'From educational puzzles and trivia challenges to sports titles and our first-ever Zumba experience, Nex Playground has the ideal lineup to help keep kids and families stay active throughout the summer. We're committed to building games that resonate with our community, and will continue to build our platform to focus on entertainment that is accessible to the whole family.' Nex Playground is a controller-free console designed for families with young kids, making active, communal play more accessible and engaging than ever. Fully motion-powered gameplay means body movements are used rather than controllers, getting players to get off the couch and making physical activity fun for all ages. Additionally, Nex Playground is kidSAFE+ COPPA certified, with no internet connectivity, online interactions, ads, and in-game purchases, making it a standout family gaming option. All data stays local to the device, and the system comes with a built-in camera cover, highlighting Nex's commitment to privacy and safety. After a strong first year at retail in 2024 selling over 200,000 units to date, Nex Playground is gaining serious traction as a top choice for family gaming. Families interested in purchasing Nex Playground can find the console on Amazon as well as in Best Buy®, Target® and Walmart® online and select retail stores nationwide. Store availability can be found at The new summer games will be progressively released on Nex Playground starting this July and will be included in the Play Pass content subscription bundle for families, which is sold separately and can easily be added anytime. To learn more about Nex Playground, visit About Nex Nex is helping families reconnect with the joy of movement through fun, social, and interactive content that's accessible to all ages. Its award-winning Nex Playground active play system launched in December 2023, is designed in California, manufactured by Skyworth, a leader in home entertainment, and is powered by an Amlogic premium AI chip. With Nex Playground, cutting-edge AI and computer vision technologies are used to merge digital and physical worlds, immersing players in the experience using their natural body movement. Games range from original sports and fitness titles, to educational games and titles in collaboration with Hasbro, Sesame Workshop, Fruit Ninja and more. Since its founding, Nex has been recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, TIME's Best Inventions, Parents' Best Entertainment System for Families, and has received RedDot, IDEA, and Core77 international design awards. Nex Playground is also kidSAFE+ COPPA certified, highlighting the company's firm stance on privacy and safety for kids and families. To learn more, visit or follow the company on Instagram and Facebook.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nex Playground Announces Summer of Fun Game Lineup Featuring New Games With Zumba and Sesame Workshop
Six new motion games continue Nex's mission to provide healthy, affordable, and accessible play solutions for kids to move more and bond with friends and family SAN FRANCISCO, June 04, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nex, the leading motion technology and entertainment company, today announced its Summer 2025 game lineup for Nex Playground, the active play system that gets families moving together. Headlining the slate are two standout partnerships: a delicious and playful puzzle adventure starring Sesame Street's Cookie Monster and a high-energy fitness experience created in collaboration with Zumba®. Together with four additional titles spanning sports, fantasy, and trivia, the lineup builds on Nex Playground's growing catalog of motion games that promote healthy, joyful, and communal active play for everyone in the family. With school out and warmer weather coming, kids and families will enjoy having a variety of indoor activities they can play all summer long. Nex Playground is keeping kids moving this summer with a fresh lineup of games: Sesame Street's Cookie Monster's Cookie Factory – Join Cookie Monster in a fun-filled puzzle adventure. Players take on cookie-themed challenges focused on sorting, pattern recognition, and hand-eye coordination. Team up and work together to solve sweet puzzles and help Cookie Monster keep the nummie, nummie treats under control! Zumba – A first-of-its-kind Zumba® experience that combines immersive motion tracking with gamified scoring and progression. Unlock new songs, styles, and dance moves while progressing through increasingly challenging routines. Developed in collaboration with Zumba's globally renowned brand, this innovative title brings the energy and excitement of the studio straight to your living room. Brainy Inc. – Step into the fast-paced world of a factory floor, where you play as a robot in the final stages of assembly. Before earning your place outside the factory, you'll face a series of challenging tests packed with brain teasers and tricky questions. Outsmart the competition, rack up points, and prove your brilliance to claim the title of the smartest robot at Brainy Inc! Mingle – A vibrant matching game from Cookiecrayon, the creators of Nex Playground's Aeon Guard. Featuring quirky characters and a relaxing pace, the game brings a laid-back charm to the summer lineup. Homerun Heroes: Starstrikers – A third-person baseball batting game. Players swing to strike home runs, smash targets, and unlock a variety of costumes and bats to win the ultimate title of Starstrikers. This game features both 1v1 and 2v2 player modes, so no one's sitting on the bench. Sword Slash Adventure – A storybook-inspired action game where players dive into a whimsical, magical world, battling a variety of monsters to unlock new worlds and engage in boss battles. An evolution of Nex Labs' original Sword Slash title, this expanded adventure includes new boss battles and equipment upgrades. "We're looking forward to expanding Nex Playground's game library with this summer's diverse and creative lineup," said David Lee, CEO and Co-Founder of Nex. "From educational puzzles and trivia challenges to sports titles and our first-ever Zumba experience, Nex Playground has the ideal lineup to help keep kids and families stay active throughout the summer. We're committed to building games that resonate with our community, and will continue to build our platform to focus on entertainment that is accessible to the whole family." Nex Playground is a controller-free console designed for families with young kids, making active, communal play more accessible and engaging than ever. Fully motion-powered gameplay means body movements are used rather than controllers, getting players to get off the couch and making physical activity fun for all ages. Additionally, Nex Playground is kidSAFE+ COPPA certified, with no internet connectivity, online interactions, ads, and in-game purchases, making it a standout family gaming option. All data stays local to the device, and the system comes with a built-in camera cover, highlighting Nex's commitment to privacy and safety. After a strong first year at retail in 2024 selling over 200,000 units to date, Nex Playground is gaining serious traction as a top choice for family gaming. Families interested in purchasing Nex Playground can find the console on Amazon as well as in Best Buy®, Target® and Walmart® online and select retail stores nationwide. Store availability can be found at The new summer games will be progressively released on Nex Playground starting this July and will be included in the Play Pass content subscription bundle for families, which is sold separately and can easily be added anytime. To learn more about Nex Playground, visit About NexNex is helping families reconnect with the joy of movement through fun, social, and interactive content that's accessible to all ages. Its award-winning Nex Playground active play system launched in December 2023, is designed in California, manufactured by Skyworth, a leader in home entertainment, and is powered by an Amlogic premium AI chip. With Nex Playground, cutting-edge AI and computer vision technologies are used to merge digital and physical worlds, immersing players in the experience using their natural body movement. Games range from original sports and fitness titles, to educational games and titles in collaboration with Hasbro, Sesame Workshop, Fruit Ninja and more. Since its founding, Nex has been recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, TIME's Best Inventions, Parents' Best Entertainment System for Families, and has received RedDot, IDEA, and Core77 international design awards. Nex Playground is also kidSAFE+ COPPA certified, highlighting the company's firm stance on privacy and safety for kids and families. To learn more, visit or follow the company on Instagram and Facebook. View source version on Contacts BerlinRosen for Nexnex@
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Selena Gomez, Martin Short, Steve Martin and the ‘Only Murders in the Building' cast share their personal highlights from Season 4
Even in the fourth season of Only Murders in the Building, as Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez's characters visit Hollywood, there was at least one revelation to be found for cocreator Martin. 'It was not until our actual fourth season that I realized Marty did comedy,' Martin deadpanned during an FYC panel for the Hulu series. 'I mean, I did all these seasons with him and I'm thinking 'What a brilliant dramatic actor!' And that was only based on because there were no laughs.' More from GoldDerby 'Squid Game' cast and creative team reveal why Mingle was the standout Season 2 set piece and hopes for Season 3 'Bridget Jones' star Renée Zellweger's emotional admission: 'I didn't want Mark Darcy to go away' 'It's in my contract that I have great clothes, funny lines, and a lover': Christine Baranski on her surging career in her 70s 'Just like now, you mean,' Short quipped without missing a beat. The roasting repartee between the old friends was just one aspect of a rollicking conversation at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood in which Martin, Gomez, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Michael Cyril Creighton joined via Zoom — they're currently at work filming the fifth season in New York City — while guest stars Jane Lynch, Molly Shannon, and Kumail Nanjiani joined cocreator and showrunner John Hoffman live. The panelists quickly zeroed in on some of their personal highlights of the season, which landed on building the show's big emotional moments as the Charles, Oliver, Mabel and their cohorts grow closer and more entwined, building out scene-stealing turns into bona fide costars, the effects of bringing Only Murders to Hollywood. Disney/Eric McCandless Gomez: 'I've spent five years with these iconic people and it's been wonderful being able to become really comfortable and in a groove with what we've created in our bond. So when we do get these emotional scenes I tend to prefer those, because I do have a soft spot for Steve and Marty. … I think there's just magic with them and I feel really grateful that I'm a part of that in any way, and genuinely it was really fun to explore that.' Martin: 'Characters like Howard and Det. Williams, they come in as it may be for two shows or something, and then later you realize 'You know who we need here? We need Howard back. We need Det. Williams back.' And they sort of create an intrinsic involvement in the show, just through their portrayals of their characters.' Creighton: 'I never know what's going to happen in a season. I always like to find out as I get the episodes. So I'm constantly surprised by how John and the writers flesh out how he could so easily just be a joke. But I feel very deeply for him. I think he's at his core really lonely and this trio has brought him out of his shell in such an amazing way. Howard started out as a really isolated character who never left his apartment and was constantly crying. Now he's doing anything he can to support the trio. He is desperate for their approval. He is deeply trying to be the fourth wheel on a tricycle, and it's been really exciting to see him figure out what he's good at, figure out what he's bad at and sort of use all his skills to try to help this amazing trio that he loves so much — even if their relationship is a little adversarial." Randolph: '[Det. Williams] could have easily become very stereotypical, and I love all of the nuances that we're able to create with her. … It's almost like siblings, right? Where it is at the core of it, she's absolutely madly in love with every single one of them, and she also can see their strengths and weaknesses. And so I think this far along and the world of the show, she would do anything for them. She would kill for them. Well, let me not start propaganda!' Hoffman: 'Coming to L.A. felt exactly right — and anachronistic, and that was exactly what felt right about the comedy potential for that, and also for these young amateur podcasters to be enticed and invited to Hollywood, which is very much of the moment, I think, so it felt natural. And I was really curious about these three dyed-in-the-wool New Yorkers in Los Angeles … watching them sort of make their way through the embrace of someone like Molly Shannon as a studio head felt just too dreamy to avoid. ... It was just story-wise, ready to give it a little bit of a jolt and then bring them back to New York.' Martin: 'Our first scene that we shot in L.A. was on the Paramount lot, right there. It was the inner gate and it was a spot I'd walked over 50 years going back and forth on the Paramount lot, getting rejected.' Nanjiani: 'I genuinely begged to be on the show. I had a Zoom with John and I was like, 'Please, I need to be on this show! I love this show, I'm a fan of everyone on this show!' And then when I got there, you kind of have to pretend to be just normal and act like you've been there. Like, 'Steve — am I saying that right? Steve?' 'Marty — Nice to meet you.' I was like, just be cool. And then on day two I was like, 'So when you guys were making Three Amigos…' And they totally indulged me and told me everything and at was really, really sweet.' Lynch: '[It was] a delight to watch Steve, and every time we did a scene together I would watch him in rehearsal and I would mimic what he did when he would. He had the idea of the first thing we did together, which was with our glasses, and then we took off from there. It was fun to wear the same clothes he wears. It was fun to steal his girlfriend. It was fun to be so much more charming and more sociable than he is. It's fun to be a much more happy person than he is. And yet the love was real — there's such love for him.' Nanjiani: 'At one point Steve came up to me because one of a line, I had referenced a movie of his and he's like, 'Hey, Kumail, I want to tell you: I was in this movie called Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid…' And I was like, 'Steve, I know who you are!' I genuinely think Steve does not know that he's an icon. I don't think he knows. Marty knows. Marty will refer to himself as such. And I do not disagree because he is right.' Patrick Harbron/Hulu Randolph: 'It's really, really cool to see major names in their own right, you almost see the little actor in them when they come on this show, because that true love of why they do what they do comes out. I've seen it in every single major new star that we get every season. I thought I knew them. … If people could see the behind the scenes of this show and see people's heart and who they are as actors, you see that little thing in them that grew big to make them who they are. And that's to me just the coolest thing to watch.' Nanjiani: 'What I loved about working with them was that the joy of the job is so evident. They obviously make so much great stuff, but in every single scene when they're there, they want to be the best that they can be in that scene. And I think as someone who's grown up — I'm getting emotional — watching them since I can remember. genuinely they've never been better than they are right now.' Gomez: 'It's actually so incredible. And you see why these people are so incredible through their work ethics, through the fun they have, the passion. They're on time, they pour their all into it. I never in a million years thought I'd seen Meryl Streep punch [Melissa McCarthy].' Shannon: 'When I was a struggling actress in Hollywood I worked for agencies, and so I felt like I was like a spy because I was studying for producers and how they work behind the scenes. … So mostly the greatest was trying to make Selena laugh because she's the best. There's nothing better than me making Selena laugh and she is the greatest comedy partner — so my character was, she's just like, 'F--k it! Actors! And your little slippers, and your special food…'' She gets to go off on them.' Short: 'Molly comes in and she's changing the words in every take. And you just see Selena turn upstage, and she's shaking.' Gomez: 'We actually had to use edits of me laughing anyway because there was no other option! You did it different every time — and I hate to say it, but it was really spot on!' Shannon: 'That particular scene — Meryl was in it too, and I was just so nervous, actually, in all honesty! I was like, 'I have to bring my A-game because I'm with these superstars.' So I was nervous. And so that scene did go very well … and I have to say, when I got home to my hotel that night, a fancy hotel that the show put me up in, and I had a margarita and I did little dance because I was so excited! That's the truth!' Best of GoldDerby 'I cried a lot': Rob Delaney on the heart and humor in FX's 'Dying for Sex' — and Neighbor Guy's kick in the 'zone' TV directors roundtable: 'American Primeval,' 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,' 'Paradise' 'Paradise' directors John Requa and Glenn Ficarra on the 'chaos' of crafting 'the world coming to an end' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Squid Game' cast and creative team reveal why Mingle was the standout Season 2 set piece and hopes for Season 3
There were no games afoot on May 30 when Netflix took over the Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles to celebrate Season 2 of Squid Game with the show's creative team and cast. Though Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk and his crew saved Season 3 teasers for the Netflix's big Tudum presentation on Saturday, Hwang hinted to Gold Derby that fans need to buckle up for the upcoming spectacle: 'There are great games," he teased. "They are going to be beyond your expectations.' Meanwhile the FYC event was about celebrating the second chapter of the worldwide phenomenon with Kim Ji-yong, editor Man Na-young, and production designer Chae Kyoung-sun, along with cast members Lee Jung-jae (Gi-hun), Lee Byung-hun (In-ho/Front Man), Choi Seung hyun, aka TOP (Thanos), Park Syung-hoon (Hyun-ju), and Kang Ae-sim (Geum-ja). While some fan-favorite games from the first season like Red Light, Green Light made it into the sophomore season, the Squid Game team also had to up the ante. The FYC event included a screening of the penultimate episode, which showcased the brutal game Mingle, which Hwang admitted during the post-screening panel was the game he was most excited to bring to audiences in the new season. More from GoldDerby Selena Gomez, Martin Short, Steve Martin and the 'Only Murders in the Building' cast share their personal highlights from Season 4 'Bridget Jones' star Renée Zellweger's emotional admission: 'I didn't want Mark Darcy to go away' 'It's in my contract that I have great clothes, funny lines, and a lover': Christine Baranski on her surging career in her 70sfor Netflix "Mingle is a game that I grew up playing. It's something that I used to play even before I went to elementary school. That is a game that teaches very young children about what the world is really like," the director told the audience. "You are shown a number, and you have to form a group by urging or holding on to that number of people. Then a minute later, when a different number shows up, you have to exclude someone. It teaches the cruel principles of society. … It's a little bit cruel and strange that such a game is played by young children, so it was the perfect game to show." Mingle was also the crown jewel for production designer Chae Kyoung-sun, who had to work with multiple teams to build the giant carousel set that could support the entire cast during the epic game. "Director Hwang wanted all of the players on the carousel. This was going to be a difficult task, so I worked together with the VFX team to make sure that we could withstand the weight of all the players," she explained. "We did a lot of tests to make sure that it was safe for all of the players to get on it. It was the most challenging set for me to create, but a lot of the cast members loved it a lot so I was so happy." The Mingle set also provided some of the most provocative shots featured in Season 2. Cinematographer Kim Ji-yong set up a downward-facing camera high above the group during the scrimmage sequences, giving audiences a birds-eye view of the chaos as players scrambled over each other to find their teams and make it to the safety zones. "On the day of the shoot, we had the camera up there, and it looked much cooler than we thought it would. Director Hwang really liked that, so he used it more than we planned to use it," he said on the panel. "The camera is so far away, up ahead, it's almost as if you're looking into a cell through a microscope. I thought that was so cool and special." Mingle wasn't just important to Season 2 because of the visual spectacle, but it also cemented the bonds between Geum-ja and her son Yong-sik (Yang Dong-geun), but also between Geum-ja and Hyun-ju. The evolution of the relationship between the matriarch of the season and transgender character Hyun-ju was meant to be symbolic of society moving towards full acceptance of the LGBTQ community. Photo byfor Netflix "While the world view of the LGBTQ community is improving, I still think there's some bias. There are some prejudices in the world," Park Sung-hoon told Gold Derby on the Squid Game rainbow carpet. "Hyun-ju is such a cool character. She's so lovable. We saw that Geum-ja warmed up to her. I hoped that viewers would do the same." The actor and former figure skater elaborated on that hope during the panel, teasing that there's more to come between Geum-ja and Hyun-ju in Season 3. "We go through a lot together in Season 3. We develop an even stronger bond. Despite being close on set, what was more important was that we had a lot of booze and alcohol happening, so that's how we built all that chemistry," he added with a laugh. Unfortunately, the fan-favorite character Thanos will not be there to witness that bond after he was murdered with his own weapon of choice — a fork — in Season 2. While Thanos will not continue, he will not be forgotten. Actor Choi Seung-hyun first rose to fame as the rapper TOP in the second-generation K-pop group BigBang, but faced a public downfall when he was found guilty of smoking marijuana — a major crime in Korea. Squid Game Season 2 marked his big return to the spotlight and the actor shared in the panel how grateful he was to be embraced by the global Netflix audience. "When I first read the script, I had to come face to face with my past mistake. When I was looking at Thanos, it took a lot of courage for me to take on this role. Director Hwang had so much trust in me that I could muster up the courage and take on the role," he said, earning a huge round of applause. "I don't think Thanos is a flat villain with just malice. He's kind of like a man-child. He doesn't know what to do. He's a little bit comedic, but while I am playing the character, I think it was an opportunity for me to self-reflect on my past and really think about what I've done wrong. Through Squid Game and this character Thanos, I feel like I have done my self-reflection, and I am ready to move on to a new chapter of my life." Someone also looking for redemption is Gi-hun, the central protagonist of the show. He managed to escape the games in Season 1, only to return for revenge and to be the hero in Season 2. Lee Jung-jae shared how he tackled the challenge of playing a much more harried Gi-hun in Season 2. "I think because he has different motives and objectives, between the Gi-hun that you see in Season 1 and the person that you see in Season 2. It's only natural that the emotions they feel are very different and naturally, the facial expressions and the overall mood you get from the character is very different," he explained. "If you think about the storyline after having gone through everything that Gi-hun has gone through in Season 1, all of the trauma and all of the cruelty that he has seen and experienced, he cannot just go back to the way he was before. I was thinking about that from the moment when he decided he's going to go back and stop these games." Netflix Gi-hun's mission is far from over. Season 2 ended with the Front Man once again gaining control of the game and forcing Gi-hun to watch another close ally die right in front of him. The hero will be attempting to get justice and shut the Squid Games down once and for all from him lowest point yet, but creator Hwang Dong-hyuk hasn't given up on the audience finding a message of hope in the series. "As the creator, I have so many messages. I wish I could talk about all of them, but to just pick one, if we continue to live the way we are living currently and in the future society, it is going to be too dark. I hope people think about what kind of future do we want to leave our next generation. Let's be more understanding and considerate of others," he told Gold Derby. Hwang elaborated on the panel that he wants the show to encourage people to think about their choice and how they use their voice. He wants more collaboration between people so that societies can choose the truly best leaders to progress us as a civilization. "Almost all of us are being dominated by algorithms and AI,' he said. 'That's where we get most of our information from, and AI is capable now of generating so much fake news without a lot of us detecting that it is fake news," he said in his closing statements. "I just hope that we can take a beat and ask ourselves can the majority rule? Can democracy guide us on the right path? Is it capable of making the right choice? I hope that we can come together and think about those things, and be concerned together. I hope [the series] provides an opportunity and room for us to do that." Best of GoldDerby 'I cried a lot': Rob Delaney on the heart and humor in FX's 'Dying for Sex' — and Neighbor Guy's kick in the 'zone' TV directors roundtable: 'American Primeval,' 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,' 'Paradise' 'Paradise' directors John Requa and Glenn Ficarra on the 'chaos' of crafting 'the world coming to an end' Click here to read the full article.
