Netflix is bringing the global phenomenon Squid Game to life with the biggest reality competition series ever, titled Squid Game: The Challenge.
With both the largest cast and lump sum cash prize in reality TV history, 456 real players will enter the game in pursuit of a life-changing reward of $4.56 million.
As they compete through a series of games inspired by the original show — plus surprising new additions — their strategies, alliances, and character will be put to the test while competitors are eliminated around them.
The stakes are high, but in this game, the worst fate is going home empty-handed. Hey, at least they won’t die, right?
“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,” said Brandon Riegg, Netflix VP of Unscripted and Documentary Series.
“Fans of the drama series are in for a fascinating and unpredictable journey as our 456 real-world contestants navigate the biggest competition series ever, full of tension and twists, with the biggest ever cash prize at the end.”
Recruitment for Squid Game: The Challenge is open now at SquidGameCasting.com. For this round, the Front Man is in search of English-language speakers from any part of the world.
The 10-episode competition series is a co-production between Studio Lambert (The Circle) and The Garden (24 Hours in A&E), part of ITV Studios, and it will be filmed in the UK.
Stephen Lambert, Tim Harcourt, and Toni Ireland from Studio Lambert and John Hay, Nicola Hill, and Nicola Brown from The Garden will serve as executive producers.
The scripted drama Squid Game holds the record as Netflix’s most popular series of all time, with over 1.65 billion view hours in the first 28 days after its September 2021 premiere.
On June 12, 2022, Squid Game was officially renewed for season 2 as Netflix and director Hwang confirmed they will once again team up for a whole new round.
In the series, a mysterious invitation to join the game is sent to people at risk who are in dire need of money. Four hundred fifty-six participants from all walks of life are locked into a secret location where they play games in order to win 45.6 billion won.
Every game is a Korean traditional children’s game, such as Red Light, Green Light, but the consequence of losing is death. Who will be the winner, and what is the purpose behind this game?
The first season consisted of nine episodes, but we don’t have an episode count yet for the second season.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills to provide the latest news on streaming, movies, and TV shows. He previously created the websites ComingSoon, SuperHeroHype, and ShockTillYouDrop.