Netflix is looking for contestants for a reality show based on Squid Game, the company’s most popular series. Unlike in the South Korean dystopian drama, the stakes will not be life or death.
Instead, 456 recruits from around the world will compete in games where “the worst fate is walking home empty-handed,” meaning they will miss out on a prize pool of $4.56 million (£3.8 million).
According to Netflix, the popular comedy was also renewed for a second season earlier this week.
What is the new show about?
Squid Game: The Challenge, a new 10-episode series from the platform, will have the “biggest cast and lump cash prize in reality TV history,” according to the platform.
“As [players] compete in a variety of games inspired by the original program – as well as some surprising new additions – their plans, alliances, and character will be put to the test as competitors are removed around them,” it continued.
At least 21 years old is required for participation. In addition, they must be able to communicate in English and be ready for filming for up to four weeks early in 2023.
The 456 participants are a reference to the fictitious series with the same number of characters, with Seong Gi-main hun’s character also known as Player 456.
The debt-ridden characters in the South Korean thriller series compete in a deadly series of children’s games for a large cash prize.
It is Netflix’s most-watched series of all time, with 111 million people watching it in the first 28 days.
In a statement released on Monday, Hwang Dong-hyuk, director, writer, and executive producer of Squid Game said: “The first season of Squid Game was released last year after a 12-year wait. But, on the other hand, Squid Game just needed 12 days to become Netflix’s most popular series ever.”
Netflix is up against stiff competition from streaming competitors but has also been hurt by price hikes and its exit from Russia.
It announced a dramatic customer loss in April and warned millions more were on the verge of abandoning the streaming service.
The company’s market worth plummeted by more than $50 billion, and analysts said it would be difficult to recover.
When is Squid Game 2 release and other relevant details?
In a similar vein, Netflix has revealed that season 2 of the original series is in the works and will be published at a later date. Fans of the big successful drama series will have to wait for fresh episodes for well over a year. The next batch of episodes, according to series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, won’t be ready until the end of 2023 at the earliest. It’s also possible that Season 2 will premiere in 2024.
The series created history when it was nominated for cast in a drama series, actor in a drama series (Lee Jung-jae), actress in a drama series (Jung Ho-yeon), and stunt ensemble at the 2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards. The prize winners were Lee Jung-jae and Ho-yeon. Three Golden Globe Awards were also given to “Squid Game,” including best TV drama.
According to confidential internal data released to Bloomberg, Netflix spent $21.4 million for the first season of “Squid Game” and estimates that the show will generate $891 million in “impact value.”
