The wait is over—Squid Game returns with its highly anticipated Season 2, premiering Thursday, Dec. 26, at 3 a.m. ET / midnight PT on Netflix. The gripping South Korean drama dives back into the deadly survival game, with seven episodes setting the stage for an intense new chapter.
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What’s New in Season 2?: The story picks up three years after Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), aka Player 456, won the 45.6 billion won prize. Haunted by his past, Gi-hun rejects his plans to move to the United States and re-enters the sinister game—not for survival or money, but to dismantle it from within. He aims to confront the mysterious Front Man and put an end to the horrors.
Official Synopsis: “Three years after winning Squid Game, Player 456 gave up going to the States and comes back with a new resolution in his mind,” reads the Season 2 synopsis. “Gi-hun once again dives into the mysterious survival game, starting another life-or-death game with new participants gathered to win the prize of 45.6 billion won.”
Cast and Crew: Returning cast members include Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo, joined by fresh faces such as Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, and Choi Seung-hyun. Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, who made history by winning an Emmy for Outstanding Directing, continues to helm the series.
Season 2 Highlights:
- Episode Count: Unlike Season 1’s nine episodes, Season 2 has a tighter, seven-episode arc.
- Future Plans: The series has been renewed for a third and final season, set for release in 2025.
- Back-to-Back Writing: Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk crafted Seasons 2 and 3 simultaneously, choosing Episode 7 of Season 2 as a pivotal pause before concluding the epic tale.
A Legacy of Success: The first season of Squid Game was a global phenomenon, earning six Primetime Emmy Awards. Lee Jung-jae and Lee You-mi secured acting wins, while Hwang’s direction became a landmark achievement for Asian representation in television.
Get ready for more high-stakes drama, new challenges, and deeper mysteries as Squid Game Season 2 unfolds. Will Gi-hun succeed in dismantling the deadly game, or will the stakes prove insurmountable? Stay tuned.
