Squid Game Season 3 Features Surprise Cameo; David Fincher to Direct US Spin-off?
The final season of Squid Game recently premiered on Netflix, delivering an already surprising plot with an unexpected cameo in its finale. Is this simply an easter egg, or is it setting the stage for more spin-off series?
The final episode of Squid Game's last season, now streaming on Netflix, includes a surprising last-minute appearance. In the concluding moments, as Hwang In-ho (Lee Byung-hun) drives through the streets of Los Angeles, he spots a woman in a suit playing the Ddakji game in an alley with another man, seemingly recruiting him for the Squid Game. This suit-clad woman is played by Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine), a cameo that was not publicly revealed before the season launched. The big question now is whether this was merely an easter egg, or if it's laying the groundwork for an American version of Squid Game.
Indeed, Deadline exclusively reported last October that Golden Globe-winning director David Fincher (The Social Network) is developing a Squid Game series, with Dennis Kelly (The Third Day) writing the script. At the time, the report indicated that this series would be Fincher's next directorial project, slated to begin filming this year. However, it was reported in April of this year that David Fincher would be directing "The Adventures of Cliff Booth," a sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood starring Brad Pitt. This project has recently been confirmed to begin filming next month, meaning Fincher might not be able to direct the Squid Game series until next year at the earliest. If production proceeds smoothly, Cate Blanchett could potentially continue her cameo role in the series, similar to Gong Yoo's character in the Korean Squid Game.
The first and second seasons of Squid Game premiered in 2021 and 2024, respectively, shattering Netflix's viewing records and becoming their most-watched and fourth-most-watched seasons to date. It's widely expected that this third season will also set new records. Furthermore, the first season notably won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor (Lee Jung-jae) and Outstanding Directing (Hwang Dong-hyuk), marking the first time Asians have won these particular Emmy categories. In 2023, Netflix also launched its first related program, the live competition game show Squid Game: The Challenge.
David Fincher has an exclusive collaboration agreement with Netflix, producing and distributing all series and films he directs since 2017. His upcoming film, "The Adventures of Cliff Booth," continues to be written by the original film's director, Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino was initially slated to direct it himself but later canceled those plans before official production began. Subsequently, the film eventually shifted to David Fincher's direction and will be released on Netflix. This sequel will focus on Brad Pitt's character, Cliff Booth, as he becomes a Hollywood "fixer." Leonardo DiCaprio, the protagonist from the first film, might also make a cameo, and new cast members include Emmy winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen), Emmy winner Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown), Scott Caan (Hawaii Five-0), and Carla Gugino (The Haunting of Hill House). Beyond Squid Game and this film, Fincher is reportedly also developing a prequel series for the Golden Globe-winning film Chinatown and planning three films based on his series Mindhunter, which premiered several years ago.
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Photo: Netflix