‘Squid Game’ Creator Reveals Original Plan for the Series Finale
The final episode of Squid Game left fans with a lot to talk about, especially the last scene, a tense stare between the Front Man and a mysterious American recruiter, played by none other than Cate Blanchett. It was a surprising twist and a powerful way to end the story, but according to creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, the moment wasn’t meant to set up a spinoff or tease a sequel.
There have been rumors that director David Fincher might work on an English-language version of Squid Game. But sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the show’s ending wasn’t written to open the door for more stories, at least not for now. Netflix hasn’t made any comments about future plans either.
When THR interviewed Hwang about the third and final season, he explained his thinking behind the ending. He made it clear that the idea wasn’t about setting up a new version of the games in the U.S.
Instead, it was about showing how even if the Korean version of the games is over, systems like it don’t just disappear. They continue in different places, in different forms.
“Gi-hun and Front Man, through these characters, the Games in Korea have ended,” he said. “I wanted to leave it on a note highlighting the fact that these systems, even if one comes down, it’s not easy to dismantle the whole system — it will always repeat itself. That’s why I wanted to end it with an American recruiter.”
Originally, the plan was different. Hwang shared that he first imagined Gi-hun surviving and flying to the U.S. to see his daughter. In that version, he would’ve been the one to spot the recruiter. But things changed as he wrote the story.
“I thought it was more fitting for Gi-hun to send this powerful and impactful message to the world [with his death] and that should be how the story comes to a close,” he explained. He felt Gi-hun’s sacrifice should mean something deeper, something tied to what’s happening in the real world.
“The world seems to be headed for the worst… What kind of sacrifices do we need to make in the current generation for us to be able to leave the future generation with a better world?” Hwang added.
He also talked about casting Cate Blanchett in the final scene. It was a short appearance, with only one line, but he needed someone who could make a huge impact in just a few seconds. “She’s someone who can instantly grab your attention with a single stare,” he said. That’s why he thought she was the perfect choice.
At first, he considered making the recruiter a man, like in the Korean version played by Gong Yoo. But choosing a woman for the role created a strong contrast and added something fresh to the scene. Blanchett’s casting gave it an extra punch.
As for continuing the story, Hwang said that if there’s ever a spinoff, it would focus on the past,, specifically the gap between seasons one and two. He’s thought about exploring characters like the Front Man or even Captain Park. But for now, the ending is meant to be just that: an ending. One that reflects the harsh reality of systems built on power and competition, and the people caught inside them.
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