Squid Game creator reveals Season 3 ending wasn't the original plan; shocking twist sets stage for more deadly games
Netflix
. Both viewers and critics have given the new season, which debuted on Friday, June 27, various reactions, particularly regarding the finale.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Hwang Dong-hyuk
, the show's creator, has now disclosed that the conclusion we saw wasn't his original purpose.
Both sadness and a hint of hope are present in the Squid Game Season 3 finale. It concludes the journey of Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), who makes the greatest sacrifice of all—giving his life to ensure that the newborn daughter of Jun-hee and Myung-gi survives the dangerous games. The infant becomes the "last one standing" in a symbolic sense.
Even In-ho, also known as the Front Man (played by Lee Byung-hun), is moved by Gi-hun's last deed. The Front Man, who is extremely cold and cruel, displays a rare act of kindness. In recognition of Gi-hun's sacrifice, he picks up the infant from the arena and makes sure she gets the entire 45.6 billion won prize money.
The conclusion was drastically modified
As reported by Variety, Hwang said, 'When I had a vague idea of what I wanted to do in Seasons 2 and 3, I had a different ending in mind.'
"But while writing the characters and shaping Gi-hun's story, I realized this should not be the way it ends. The new ending made more sense emotionally and was better for his character.'
Variety further quoted Hwang revealing that, in his original draft, Gi-hun was supposed to make the opposite decision in the finale. 'It was a very drastic change from my first idea to what ended up being the final story,' he said.
The Front Man compared to Gi-hun
Gi-hun and the Front Man's disagreements are a major theme of Season 3.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
While The Front Man has lost all faith in humanity and believes that people are naturally self-centered, Gi-hun thinks that people are generally good and kind. The season's emotional high point, their final dispute, is the result of this conflict.
The scene where Gi-hun, who is tempted to murder people while they are sleeping in order to survive, sees a vision of his Season 1 friend Sae-byeok (played by HoYeon Jung) is among the most impactful.
"You're not that kind of person," she reminds him. He is brought back to reality by these words.
This moment was crucial, according to Hwang. 'It had to be simple but strong. Sae-byeok's words were the best way to stop Gi-hun from crossing a line.'
What Comes Next?
Even though Gi-hun's story and Hwang's involvement with the series are ending with this season, there are hints that Squid Game might go on. A future game in Los Angeles is hinted at by the appearance of a new Recruiter (Cate Blanchett) in the closing scenes.
'Even though the story has closure, I think it leaves behind a sense of longing,' Hwang said. "So maybe, if the timing is right, there's a chance for more stories someday.'
Squid Game Season 3 is currently available for streaming exclusively on Netflix.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Singer Cheryl Tweedy 'Heartbroken' Over Liam Payne's Netflix Show, Worries For His Son
Last Updated: Singer Cheryl Tweedy found it heartbreaking when Liam Payne's final TV show, Building The Band, was released on Netflix. Payne died after a fall in Buenos Aires. Cheryl Tweedy found it 'heartbreaking" when Liam Payne's final TV show was released on Netflix. The 31-year-old singer/songwriter filmed Building The Band before his tragic death following a fall from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina last year and Cheryl, 42, the mother of his eight-year-old son Bear, has reportedly found it difficult to deal with the release of the show. A source told the Mirror: 'It is very sad for Cheryl. She's very proud that Liam's final project is now available for the world to see, but obviously it's heartbreaking, too, after Liam's death. It's a poignant reminder to Cheryl – and to his fans – of how much more Liam could have done with his life. But that potential was tragically cut short." Cheryl – who dated Liam from 2016 to 2018 – is said to be worried about how the show will affect Bear. The insider explained, 'He had so much going for him, as well as being a devoted father to Bear. It's another reason why Cheryl wanted to continue with her own TV career – to show Bear that there is life after losing Liam, that you can be strong and that he can pick himself up. He can be anything he wants to be in life." Building The Band host AJ McClean paid a poignant tribute to Liam at the beginning of the first episode. He said, 'When we came together to film Building The Band, we never imagined we'd soon be saying goodbye to our friend, Liam Payne. Liam is a guest judge in later episodes and, through his presence, we see his deep love for music and his unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice. It's through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family." First Published:
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Did you know Lee Byung-Hun's ‘Front Man' avoided his trend of dying in the shows for THIS reason?
Surprisingly, Squid Game season three appears to finally break the melancholy tendency that has characterized many of Lee Byung-hun's noteworthy appearances in television and film. One of the main villains, Lee Byung-hun, was first presented in Squid Game season 1. The opening season of the Netflix Korean show barely revealed anything about his history but hinted at how he ended up becoming the Front Man. Season 2 of Squid Game progressively untangled the web of his mysterious past to reveal that he was also a player in the main games at one point. He ended up losing faith in humanity as a result of the games' events, which led him to play a crucial role in enabling a system that had previously taken advantage of him. Owing to the developments in the Front Man's story in Squid Game's seasons 1 and 2, it was hard not to believe that he would meet the same fate as many of Lee Byung-hun's other characters. However, surprisingly, Squid Gameseason 3 broke one major trend in the actor's career by ending the Front Man's story in an unpredictable way. Lee Byung-hun has portrayed a wide range of characters in television series and films. Surprisingly, despite the fact that most of the characters he plays are very distinct from one another, they all end up dying. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The actor's characters have died in the most bizarre and frequently terrible ways in nearly ten films. Even when the actor appeared in Hollywood movies, like The Magnificent Seven, Terminator Genesis, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, his characters still often met with grim or sacrificial ends. On television, Lee Byung-hun's Hyun-Jun Kim died in IRIS after being shot in the head. Similarly, his character, Eugene Choi, met with a similar fate in Mr. Sunshine. Based on this death trend alone, the viewers, who are familiar with his extensive line of work, could not help but expect that he would die in Squid Games 3 as well. The show, however, astonished many by not only keeping him alive but also giving him a semblance of redemption near the conclusion. Many viewers could not help but theorize that the Front Man would eventually die in Squid Game. It was believed that either Gi-hun or Jun-ho would kill him to ensure the games ended for good. The Front Man brutally murdered Gi-hun's friend, Jung-bae, in Squid Game season 2's ending moments. This led many viewers to believe that Gi-hun would be out for blood in season 3 and would take revenge because the front man deceived him in season 2. The Front Man spared his brother, Jun-ho, in season 1 by making sure he received medical care after shooting him, even though he had little humanity left in him. There was a lot of speculation that Jun-ho wouldn't be as forgiving to his brother. As a police officer, his great sense of justice would drive him to kill rather than spare his brother. Unexpectedly, despite having the chance, Jun-ho also chooses not to murder In-ho, ending Lee Byung-hun's fatality streak. The Front Man watches Gi-hun die from a distance in Squid Game season 3's ending. After watching Gi-hun sacrifice his life for the baby, the Front Man seemingly finds some of his lost humanity. Owing to this, he sends Jun-hee's baby to his brother, believing that he would do a better job at raising the child. He also heads to the United States and gives Gi-hun's daughter access to his winning prize from the games. Although the conclusion of the Front Man's story in Squid Game season 3 is a little unclear, it confirms his survival and suggests that he might choose to pursue redemption rather than play the games again. The Front Man receives a bittersweet ending, much like the majority of Lee Byung-hun's characters who pass away around the end of their stories. However, because he at least survives and regains some of his lost morals, his ending arc seems more sweet than bitter.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
R Madhavan To QUIT Romantic Films After Aap Jaisa Koi? He Says ‘Maybe My Last Chance…'
R Madhavan revealed the real reason behind doing Aap Jaisa Koi with Fatima Sana Shaikh. He said it may be his last chance to do a romantic film before he gives it up completely. R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh starrer 'Aap Jaisa Koi' released on Netflix on July 11. The romantic drama has been garnering a lot of love and appreciation from viewers. In a recent interview, Madhavan revealed the real reason behind his decision to say yes to 'Aap Jaisa Koi', stating that it stemmed from his desire to explore an 'age-appropriate' romance. He also hinted that it may be his final romantic role before he moves away from such roles. In an interview with Just Too Filmy, R Madhavan was asked about the real reason behind his decision to star in Aap Jaisa Koi. He replied, 'When I started this story, I thought I will be able to pull off a romantic story at the day and the age I was. Because I was looking for an age appropriate romance. Maybe my last chance to do romance before I have to give it up completely. That's why." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Just Too Filmy (@justtoofilmy) R Madhavan is undeniably one of Bollywood's most charming romantic heroes. His role as Maddy in the 2001 film 'Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (RHTDM)' remains memorable even today, over two decades later. The film went on to achieve cult status, and Madhavan's portrayal of Maddy became iconic in Bollywood's romance genre. Over the years, R. Madhavan has showcased his versatility by taking on roles across a variety of genres. He was seen in the Tamil action thriller film 'Vikram Vedha', as well as the biographical drama film 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect'. He played a negative role in the 2024 supernatural thriller film 'Shaitaan', and his performance was loved by one and all. About Aap Jaisa Koi R Madhavan plays a 42-year-old man Shrenu Tripathi in Aap Jaisa Koi, while Fatima Sana Shaikh is seen as Madhu Bose in this heartwarming family drama that celebrates connection, companionship, and the beauty of discovering 'Barabari Wala Pyaar' in the most unexpected circumstances. Set across the distinct worlds of Jamshedpur and Kolkata, the film follows Shrirenu, a man shaped by habit and tradition, as he begins to re-examine long-held beliefs about masculinity, companionship, and emotional expression. In Madhu, a spirited woman who refuses to shrink herself to fit societal moulds, he finds not just a romantic partner, but a mirror to his own conditioning. As the two navigate family expectations, emotional baggage, and the weight of societal conditioning, Aap Jaisa Koi becomes a story not just about romance, but about reclaiming a woman's agency. Produced by Dharmatic Entertainment's Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, Aap Jaisa Koi released on Netflix on July 11. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
