Netflix is turning its hit drama series into reality television with Squid Game: The Challenge. Variety reports that a reality competition based on the 2021 South Korean drama has been greenlit, with production moving forward on the series. The announcement for the show can be found below.
The series, which stars Lee Jung-jae in the lead role, centers around a deadly, high-stakes game involving 456 players taken off South Korea’s streets to compete for a massive cash prize. Netflix promises the reality show will be similar, with lower stakes than the drama series. No one will be killed for failing to complete a challenge; however, you will miss your chance at fortune and be sent home if you cannot advance past the round.
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Netflix wanted to clarify that Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk is onboard with the series, releasing a statement from Brandon Riegg:
“Squid Game took the world by storm with Director Hwang’s captivating story and iconic imagery. We’re grateful for his support as we turn the fictional world into reality in this massive competition and social experiment.”
It’s essential to have the creators’ blessing for the new series, as the original show was a sharp critique of capitalism and voyeurism. Squid Game: The Challenge could easily be seen as a quick money grab, and it’s up to Netflix to distinguish the show from other reality competitions.
How Will Squid Game: The Challenge Work?
According to Netflix, the series will have the biggest cash prize and largest contestant pool in reality television history. 456 players will compete for $4.56 million over the course of the show. The competition will feature games inspired by the show, which could include challenges such as red light, green light, and tug-of-war. In addition, Netflix is promising to add “surprising new additions” to the series, and we will have to wait and see what these might be.
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The games will test contestants’ strategies, alliances, and character as players are constantly eliminated around them. The show will consist of 10 episodes, filmed in the U.K. as a co-production between Studio Lambert and The Garden. Open casting is currently taking place, with English-language speakers getting the opportunity of a lifetime to appear on the show. If you’re interested in joining the contestants on Squid Game: The Challenge, you can apply at SquidGameCasting.com.
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