Latest news with #Tires'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Squid Game' Star Unpacks Her Character's Sacrifice: 'I Could Not Stop Crying'
[This story contains MAJOR spoilers from the season three finale, 'Humans are …'] Squid Game is a story about sacrifice in order to achieve a better future. In the end, the third and final season of Netflix's global mega-hit killed its protagonist so creator Hwang Dong-hyuk could deliver that message. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'The Old Guard 2' Review: Charlize Theron and KiKi Layne Bring All the Right Moves, but Netflix Sequel Doesn't Have the Same Kick Streaming Ratings: 'Squid Game' Final Season Sets Three-Day Record on Netflix Charts 'Tires' Renewed for Season 3 at Netflix The finale, titled 'Humans are…', saw reluctant hero Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) sacrificing himself so that the baby of two deceased players in the deadly South Korean Games could survive. The baby's mother, Kim Jun-hee, aka Player 222 (Jo Yu-ri), made the first ultimate sacrifice when, with a broken foot and unable to compete, she threw herself off a sky-high ledge and charged the then-alive Gi-hun to take care of her newborn baby, who was birthed during the prior game, in order to give her child the best shot at survival. The irony is that the final game came down to Gi-hun and the baby's father, Lee Myung-gi, aka Player 333 (Yim Swian), as they battled each other on another sky-high ledge. Gi-hun ended up victorious, but because of the final game's twisted rules and the baby now counting as a player, only Gi-hun or the baby could be left alive. When Gi-hun jumps to his death, the baby is then crowned the champion. The ultimate ending (complete with an A-list cameo from Cate Blanchett) is a bleak one, but there is hope for Jun-hee's legacy. In one of the show's final scenes, antagonist The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) leaves the newborn — along with the 45.6 billion won cash prize, about $31.5 million — with his good guy police detective brother, Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon). Before the third and final season of Squid Game released to a new viewership record for Netflix, Jo Yu-ri was most likely recognized for her K-pop origins, first as a member of group Iz*One and then as a solo artist. Below, she spoke with The Hollywood Reporter via a translator about landing the standout role, her emotional reaction when learning about Jun-hee's fate and her hopes for the ending, before she had seen the final episode. *** Coming from the K-pop world and with your musical background, how did this role come to you? I received an audition request. The audition process was pretty lengthy, so it was three, four months of preparing for Jun-hee and then I got the role. I read that your audition was a process. What attracted you to Jun-hee and what made you want to fight for this role? I actually did not know what kind of role it would be, specifically. I really had no prior information on the character. What I was able to glean from the audition process was really only what director [Hwang] told me — her name and that she was pregnant. That was pretty much all I had during the process. But after I got the role, he gave me the script and that was when I was able to fill in the blanks. For her to enter the Games so far into her pregnancy, we assume she was at a point of desperation. But as we get to know her — and then see her ultimate sacrifice — we learn she is incredibly strong-willed. What backstory did you create to help you understand her better? As we know from watching the show, there's not a lot revealed about Jun-hee's backstory. I did have to work a little bit on my own to fill in those blanks. The director [Hwang] once mentioned to me that she could have tried to follow in Myungi's footsteps and tried to be a YouTuber, but I felt her personality wasn't quite right to be a successful YouTuber. In my mind, I think she made a few attempts but failed, then found out she was pregnant and was working odd jobs. That then led her to meet the man who recruits her. I understand that you wore a prosthetic belly and learned how to walk and act pregnant while you were filming. The labor scene was very intense to watch. Was the baby entirely CGI and what was it like to film that scene, along with your two co-stars Kang Ae-sim (Player 149) and Park Sung-hoon (Player 120), who also ultimately don't make it out of the Games alive? For the birth scene, I was really helped by my co-star Ae-sim. I took her advice a lot, and she really helped out. So filming that scene was difficult, but I definitely managed. With the baby, we actually had a silicone dummy doll version of a baby. We had two versions: one that was moving and one that was a robotic baby, and I remember alternating between those dolls to film that scene. But even if it was a doll, it just felt so real to me. I remember tearing up, just holding that baby in my arms. Jun-hee's death is so heartbreaking. The odds were against her, but as a viewer, we don't want to accept that she won't make it out. How did you react when you read her fate, and that she sacrifices herself and hands her child over to Gi-hun to give her child the best shot of survival? Was that why you had teased this season as being 'brutal and cruel'? Just the concept of having a pregnant woman in the Games made me think, 'How much more cruel is this [seasons two and three] going to be?' The scene where she decides to give Gi-hun the baby was definitely a super emotionally intense scene. I really tried my best to portray that sense of emotion and how torn she was. I was also very curious to see how the baby would factor into the Games, because at the time, I could not read the scripts that followed Jun-hee's death. So I was very curious. What was it like filming her final scene, in particular her final conversations with both Gi-hun and Myungi? Also, how immersive was that Jump Rope game set as you were filming her goodbye and going through the process of her making the decision to sacrifice herself? It was really emotionally difficult, especially my last conversation with Gi-hun. I really felt my emotions just spilling over and exploding. But the director [Hwang] asked me to pull it back a little bit, actually, and to keep it a bit more restrained. I remember that was even harder to do. My scene with Myungi is one I absolutely love because it was my audition scene. Jun-hee's words, especially in that scene, are so heartbreaking, and I found myself relating to when she is asking Myungi, 'With my foot like this, are you going to, what, carry me across?' Even after the cameras stopped rolling, I just could not stop crying. The finale boiled down to the father of the baby (Player 333), Gi-hun (Player 456) and Jun-hee's baby as the remaining players in the Sky Squid Game. Were you surprised when you found out the evil twist that the baby would actually become a player in the game, and take on Jun-hee's Player 222 number? What were your hopes going into the finale? I remember when I found out the baby was going to be a participant. I remember feeling despair and not even wanting that to happen. I remember almost tearing up. I have only seen up to episode five [the penultimate episode] of season three. The most positive outcome that I was trying to think of is that Detective Jun-ho finally figures out where the island is, and the Games stop. And then there are three winners left. That was what I was hoping for. [Writer's note: Though there were not three winners in the end, Jun-hee's baby was the ultimate winner and survived the Games and the series, giving the baby the best possible outcome.] *** The final season of Squid Game is now streaming on Netflix. Read THR's take on the finale cameo and how it could set up a spinoff, and our two-part interview with creator Hwang Dong-hyuk on making the final season and why he ended the series how he did. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Tom's Guide
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I just started Netflix's chilling new murder mystery and haven't been this hooked by a show in ages — you need to watch it now
There's a certain irony that Netflix's new mystery drama, 'The Survivors,' takes place in the sunny (but fictional) resort town of Evelyn Bay, because this show is anything but a pleasant trip to the beach. In fact, at times it's almost oppressively bleak. Yet it's compelling from the first moments. Adapted from the best-selling Jane Harper novel of the same name, 'The Survivors' explores trauma, guilt and family ties in a way that instantly hooked me from the very first episode. Plus, for those who just want a good mystery, there's an unexplained murder, too. Clearly, I'm not the only Netflix subscriber who's found 'The Survivors' to be particularly gripping. After premiering last week (on June 6), the show has already found its way into the Netflix top 10 most-watched list. Currently, it ranks in the No. 3 spot only behind the latest seasons of established streaming hits 'Tires' and 'Ginny & Georgia.' Could it get to No. 1? 'The Survivors' is also the perfect candidate for mid-week binge-watching at just six episodes long. Just be warned, once its twisting web of dark secrets entangles you, you'll think about little else until you see it through to the end. 15 years ago, a tragedy struck the picturesque town of Evelyn Bay when a raging storm took the lives of three young people. Kieran Elliot (Charlie Vickers) managed to survive the ordeal, but the victims included his older brother, Finn. In the present day, Kieran returns to Evelyn Bay to visit his parents and introduce them to his baby daughter alongside his partner Mia (Yerin Ha), but the tight-knit community has never moved on from the incident. The loss of those three youths hangs over the town to this very day. Soon after Kieran's return home, a body washes up on the beach, and the investigation suggests this was no tragic accident; it was murder. And that's just the start of the mysteries as buried secrets come to life, and past traumas and deep-seated resentments bubble to the surface. 'The Survivors' sets out its stall straight away. This is an intense watch. The very first scene sees a young Kieran fighting against Mother Nature as a devastating storm attempts to pull him under the rocky ocean waves and to a watery tomb. Things don't get much lighter in tone from here. Flashforward a decade and a half, and we meet an older Kieran with his partner Mia and a baby in tow. Yes, he's returning to Evelyn Bay to visit his mother and father, but this is no happy homecoming. Even his attempts to have a couple of beers with old friends see Kieran confronted by a member of the community who has never been able to move past the tragic circumstances of that stormy night. The scars of the past still sting, and the tragic loss of three young people is a weight the community has never been able to shed. It becomes immediately apparent that Kieran's return has only brought the trauma felt by those who remain in the bay into even sharper focus. Frankly, at this point, 'The Survivors' has enough compelling drama to justify its six-episode count. Kieran's survivor's guilt and the resentment felt even by figures who should be the most understanding, such as his mother, Verity (Robyn Malcolm), is enough to sustain a series on its own. But this drama goes a step further and throws a murder mystery into the melting pot. I should probably warn prospective viewers right now that 'The Survivors' is not a murder mystery in the mold of 'Knives Out.' This isn't a playful mystery anchored by an exuberant detective, instead, it's a much more grisly affair. But you'll almost instantly crave answers. I'm still making my way through the show — I promised I wouldn't watch more without my partner present, a decision I'm already regretting — so I can't speak to how the show wraps up, but based on what I've watched, 'The Survivors' ranks as one of the strongest Netflix originals of the year to date. It's dramatic, gripping and deeply tragic. It's quite the mix. I'm in pretty good company when it comes to being impressed by 'The Survivors.' As noted, the show appears to be an instant hit with Netflix subscribers after storming into the top 10, and critics are also seriously impressed. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, the show currently holds a perfect 100% score. "The Survivors is a study in how raw grief and festering resentment warp everything — and how surviving a tragedy rarely means getting away unscathed,' said Lucy Mangan of The Guardian. Meanwhile, ScreenHub's Anthony Morris praised the series for its 'intriguing premise' and notes that 'it ticks all the boxes' to be a compelling whodunnit drama. So, if you're looking for a new Netflix binge-watch, 'The Survivors' is one original drama that deserves a spot in your watchlist. Even that might be selling it short, after all, watchlists are often where content goes to remain forever unwatched. Instead, I thoroughly recommend you start streaming it right now. I suspect you might also find that from the very first moments, you'll be eager to watch the rest of the six-episode series as soon as possible. 'The Survivors' entangled web of secrets can be pretty darn heavy at times, but the drive to find out more will quickly ensnare you. Already torn through 'The Survivors?' Well, it is only six episodes long, which in the modern streaming era may only last you a couple of days, so why not give 'Blindspot' a try? This NBC crime drama recently arrived on Netflix, and with 100 episodes, it should last you a while. Alternatively, for even more top streaming picks, check out our guide to everything new on Netflix in June 2025, which includes engrossing TV shows and must-watch movies. Watch "The Survivors" on Netflix now
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania invests millions in popular streaming series
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Earlier today, the Shapiro Administration announced that it will be providing a multi-million-dollar film tax credit to the producers of 'Mayor of Kingstown', which is currently filming its fourth season in the City of Pittsburgh. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED), the Pennsylvania Film Office is providing a $30 million film tax credit to the producers of the hit streaming series 'Mayor of Kingstown'. Currently, the series starring Jeremy Renner is filming its fourth season in Pittsburgh. To date, production of the series has resulted in more than 2,600 new jobs and infused over $100 million into Pennsylvania's economy. RELATED: Pennsylvania invests in TV & film projects including new Shane Gillis show 'Tires' 'When a TV or film production comes to Pennsylvania it's a huge driver for the local economy. Crews need housing, equipment, transportation, catering and other services, hire area workers, and spend money at local businesses,' Film Commissioner Gino Anthony Pesi said. 'The Shapiro Administration is thrilled that a major production like 'Mayor of Kingstown' recognizes the incredible locations, people, and amenities we have in Pennsylvania, and our Film Tax Credit program helps us better compete in attracting more well-known productions like this one.' DCED says the Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit program offers a 25% tax credit to products that spend at least 60% of their total budget in Pennsylvania. To be eligible for the tax credit, projects must be a feature film, a television film, a television talk or game show series, a television commercial, a television pilot, or each episode of a television series intended as programming for a national audience. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'We're thrilled to welcome Season Four of Mayor of Kingstown back to Pittsburgh. The production employs thousands of local union members, emphasizing the impact that a robust Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit program can have on our economy and industry,' Dawn M. Keezer, Executive Director, of the Pittsburgh Film Office said. 'Feature films and TV productions have impacted this region to the tune of $2.5 billion. The continued expansion of the program is vital to our growth and the good, family-sustaining jobs and workforce development opportunities it supports.' Since the start of the Shapiro Administration, Film Tax Credits have attracted 72 film projects, including a record 50 projects in fiscal year 2023-24. Altogether, those projects infused more than $767 million into regional economies and generated jobs for more than 6,700 Pennsylvanians. abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
