Squid Game is the most popular series to ever stream on Netflix, surpassing other colossal shows such as Stranger Things when the series debuted in 2021. Squid Game, which follows hundreds of cash-strapped players as they compete in life or death games, took the world by storm, captivating audiences with its unique visuals and original storyline. The series stars Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Hoyeon, Oh Yeong-su, Anupam Tripathi, and Lee Byung-hun.
The South Korean series featured some well-known Korean actors; however, there wasn't any Hollywood talent in the series due to the limited budget of the first season. Now, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk tells Deadline he is interested in adding well-known actors with the increased budget for future seasons. Although he admitted adding non-Korean actors was "not in [Hwang's] plan" initially, the director admits that could "probably change" if a third season was greenlit from Netflix. Leonardo DiCaprio would be one of the first actors to get the call, as Dong-hyuk says, "Maybe if time allows and if chances allow we should ask him to join the game," he continues, saying the Titanic actor has "said he is a big fan many times."
Hwang Dong-hyuk also confirmed a substantially larger budget for the second season of Squid Game, set to begin production sometime next year. This allowed for all new games across the series, and the director has already decided which games would take the spotlight. He tells Deadline, "I beg you not to write articles about the games because the audience needs to feel the suspense and thrill of what's coming next." He jokingly continued, "If I get too drunk and babble, I ask you to suffocate me to stop me from giving spoilers." Look for the next season of Squid Game, with new and improved games, to arrive on Netflix sometime in 2024.
Lee Jung-jae Is Aware of DiCaprio's Love for Squid Game
The actors and talent behind Squid Game became known worldwide following the release of the massive Netflix series. During an interview on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, lead actor Lee Jung-jae discussed meeting with Leonardo DiCaprio at an art gala. During their time together, the beloved Hollywood actor expressed his fondness for the South Korean drama series.
"And he told me that he actually did watch ‘Squid Game.’ He enjoyed it very much and he told me ‘you’re so lucky to be in and you did an amazing job.’ It was unbelievable."
DiCaprio considered Lee Jung-jae lucky for his role in Squid Game, but will the 47-year-old actor be joining the crew in the third season, which is likely to come to fruition? For now, nothing is off the table as Hwang Dong-hyuk weighs all his options. However, the director's efforts are focused entirely on the upcoming second season of the Netflix series, which is making its way to production.