‘Squid Game 3' originally had a happy ending. Why did director Hwang Dong-hyuk change it? Creator also breaks silence on Squid Game 4
Remove Ads
Alternate Ending That Never Was
Reflecting Harsh Realities Through Fiction
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Popular in Panache
A Powerful Cameo That Reframes the Narrative
No Direct Sequels—But Possibilities Remain
The release of Squid Game Season 3 has left fans deeply unsettled, primarily due to the unexpected and heart-wrenching demise of the series' central figure, Seong Gi-hun . Played by Lee Jung-jae, the brave yet deeply flawed protagonist meets his end during a daring rescue, sacrificing himself to protect a newborn caught in the crossfire of the lethal games. For many viewers, the loss of Gi-hun—who had grown into a symbol of resistance and redemption—felt both abrupt and emotionally devastating.During a press event, the creator and director of the franchise, Hwang Dong-hyuk , shared that he had once envisioned a far more hopeful outcome for Gi-hun. Initially, he planned for the character to emerge from the harrowing experience with a sense of peace, traveling to the United States to reunite with his daughter. This alternate ending suggested closure, growth, and a long-awaited reward for enduring trauma.When Hwang first started conceptualizing the second installment, he imagined Gi-hun returning to the games—not for greed, but as a force for good, perhaps sabotaging the system or aiding others in breaking free. That noble intention, he thought, would conclude with Gi-hun finally reconnecting with his daughter abroad. However, the deeper he dove into the script, the less that optimistic ending seemed to align with the story he felt compelled to tell. As Hwang refined the narrative, he concluded that Gi-hun's arc needed to conclude on a more sobering note."I asked myself, 'What is the story I truly want to tell?' And that led me to the realization that Gi-hun's journey had to end here," he told Korea Herald.The creator explained that Squid Game has always been a commentary on the real world. Compared to when Season 1 was produced, he feels that the world has deteriorated further—with widening economic disparity, increasing conflict, and general helplessness among the masses. As global crises worsen year after year, Hwang saw the need to embed this grim reality into the fabric of the story.Gi-hun's painful and ultimately fatal path serves as a mirror to the struggles of everyday individuals. Far from being an extraordinary hero, he represented the average person—someone overlooked, underestimated, and burdened by systemic failures. His tragic end underscores the broader themes of despair and hopelessness that permeate modern society."The painful journey of someone like Gi-hun, an average or even below-average person," he said.The finale shocked viewers yet again with the sudden appearance of Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett. She steps into the role of a recruiter for the games, engaging potential players in a game of ddakji—a striking visual echo of the series' original Korean storyline, but now relocated to the US. Hwang explained that he purposefully cast a woman in the role, contrasting with the earlier male recruiter portrayed by Gong Yoo in Korea. He wanted a commanding presence for the short yet pivotal moment, and Blanchett, whom he greatly admires, fit the part perfectly.Despite the jaw-dropping ending and high-profile cameo, Hwang clarified that there are no plans for a direct continuation of Gi-hun's storyline. He expressed that the narrative goals for this season have been fully met, and revisiting the central arc would serve little purpose. However, he is open to developing side narratives or character-focused spin-offs. Hwang hinted at potential explorations into the lives of masked game organizers, referencing a cryptic photo of the Front Man found in Captain Park's home—a subtle clue fans had speculated about.For now, Hwang appears content to let Gi-hun's journey conclude as a powerful statement, even as viewers struggle to process the profound loss.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
27 minutes ago
- India.com
Ramayana First Glimpse: Director Nitesh Tiwari Opens Up About Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi And Yash Starrer
New Delhi: The first glimpse of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash is out and has taken the internet by storm. This grand epic unfolds as a two-part live-action cinematic universe, crafted on a scale matching the biggest global tentpoles. Bringing together iconic talent from both Hollywood and India, Ramayana promises to be a cinematic spectacle like never before. Hailed as the biggest film ever made, it has already begun receiving overwhelming love and admiration from audiences across the world. The teaser introduces Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash as Ravana, letting netizens witness the glimpse of the duo's first look in this mythological epic. Watch Ramayana First Glimpse Below: While the first glimpse was launched in front of a packed IMAX auditorium filled with media professionals and fans alike, director Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra who were present at the launch was seen opening about the film. When asked director Nitesh Tiwari what he hoped to achieve by bringing this epic to the big screen, he said, 'For me, it's about the pride we should feel for the great culture we have in our country. If we can evoke that and show the world what we stand for, that would be an achievement—and that's what I'm hoping to do with this.' Got to watch the #RamayanaGlimpse at PVR ICON, Mumbai and no phone or laptop screen can do justice to what I witnessed in IMAX. World-class visuals, Zimmer's score hits instantly. Namit Malhotra & Nitesh Tiwari were present, take a bow! #RanbirKapoor #YashBOSS — Vinit (@Vinitttttttt) July 3, 2025 Namit Malhotra, the producer of Ramayana expressed his disbelief that the film's first visual asset was finally out for the audience to experience. He said, 'It has been a very, very long dream, to put our hearts and souls into this and do justice to it. My only aspiration is: how do we take our greatest culture, our greatest history, and share it with the world?'. He also added that his company is leaving no stone unturned in its effort to deliver the most spectacular cinematic experience possible. Written by Shridhar Raghavan, the film boasts an ensemble cast including Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, among others. Produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios and 8-time Oscar winning VFX studio DNEG in association with Yash's Monster Mind Creations. Oscar-winning legends Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman also join forces to craft a new cinematic symphony. Ramayana is being filmed for IMAX and will release worldwide in two parts, Part 1 in Diwali 2026 and Part 2 in Diwali 2027.
Hindustan Times
36 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
What Prada did to the GI law and Kolhapuris
The leather sandals seen on the ramp for the Prada Men Spring Summer 2026 collection have recently been in the eye of a storm. While Prada has now acknowledged that the products were inspired by the traditional Kolhapuri chappals (a registered Geographical Indication since 2019) has any law been broken here? PREMIUM Now that the law is done and dusted, the question of ethics and cultural appropriation must be addressed. (REUTERS) To unpack the controversy, one must first understand what a GI registration really means. A geographical indication is a tag given to a product (natural or man made) that originates in a particular place and has a particular set of characteristics. Kolhapuri chappals are identified in the registration as a species of open Indian footwear made of bag tanned leather with vegetable dyes, produced using traditional techniques and tools. According to the registration, these products use buffalo hide, cow hide, calf skins of buff and cow treated with lime (slaked) and tanned using vegetable tanning material (Babulbark and myrobalan nuts), and sisal fibre for stitching. They also involve the use of hand tools for unhairing, fleshing, beaming and scrubbing. The GI law merely serves as a badge of origin and authenticity for a craft or product that comes from a particular region. For example, tea that is not grown in Darjeeling under a specific set of circumstances cannot be called Darjeeling tea. However, if tea grown elsewhere mimics the taste and aroma of a perfect cup of first flush from Darjeeling without using the word on its product packaging or promotion, the law will let you drink your tea (or spill it), without interfering. GI infringement occurs when a product is mis-tagged, i.e. something made elsewhere under a different set of conditions and/or using different raw materials is sold as the original GI tagged product. If Prada sold products tagged as Kolhapuri chappals when they were in fact not made in Maharashtra or Karnataka according to the specifications of the GI registration, only then would the question of infringement arise. That is clearly not the case here. So irrespective of how rankled one may feel, there is no actionable claim that can be made in this instance, for the infringement of a GI or any other form of intellectual property. In this backdrop, should we demand that since these sandals resemble Kolhapuri chappals, Prada should call them by that name? A brand's decision as to where they manufacture their products is a purely commercial one. Prada currently does not manufacture its leather footwear in India. It has its own set of quality control measures and product specifications, that could potentially conflict with the specifications of a GI tagged product. So, a demand that Prada tag their products as Kolhapuri chappals makes sense only if they are manufactured in the specific districts of Maharashtra or Karnataka in accordance with the criteria of the GI registration and are not based on Prada's own specifications and materials. If they don't do either, then it would be a mis-description to tag the products as Kolhapuri chappals and ultimately a disservice to the original craft and its GI registration. I can almost hear you asking, 'then what is the point of the registration?' A GI registration helps set standards for the product; it regulates the place of manufacture, the raw materials and technique used. If the raw materials and techniques are accurate but the place of manufacture is different, it is at best an 'inspiration' — the product cannot be sold under the GI tag, which appears to be the case here. And the question of acknowledging inspiration is a purely ethical and moral question, not a legal one. So does this mean that Prada now 'owns' Kolhapuri chappals? The answer is again, no! Designer apparel and accessories are protected (after registration) under the Designs Act, 2000 in India. For a design to be registrable it needs to be original and not in the public domain. The risk that a luxury brand takes with potentially launching a product that is firmly in the public domain is that it cannot claim infringement against third party knock-offs since the design in this case would not be registrable in Prada's favour. But here again, it is important to remember that the commercial decision of whether these products will traverse the path from ramp to retail has not been publicly declared. So the claim that Prada will be 'selling' these for a lakh plus is at best a click-bait headline for the moment. Now that the law is done and dusted, the question of ethics and cultural appropriation must be addressed. Although there is no actionable legal claim against Prada, the public clamour and PR backlash have resulted in opening up a channel of communication between them and the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce. Whether it will result in tokenism or a commercial boost to the traditional practitioners of the craft, remains to be seen. The one definite positive outcome I see from this controversy is an uptick in the sales of the original Kolhapuri chappals. With a foreign luxury brand's apparent endorsement, we will hopefully see our heritage products as cool! After all, what's sauce for the goose is chutney for the gander! Shwetasree Majumder is managing partner, Fidus Law Chambers. The views expressed are personal.
Pink Villa
39 minutes ago
- Pink Villa
Better Late Than Single Relase: Date, time, when and where to watch on OTT, what to expect, more
Upcoming unscripted show, Better Late Than Single, has released its official episode schedule ahead of premiering on Netflix. With the first episode schedule to drop on July 8 at 12:30 pm IST (4 pm KST), the show has confirmed that it will span over 10 episodes and not 12, unlike what was previously reported. The panelists and hosts for the show will include a mix of actors, singers, and comedians/ TV personalities for a fun playout in its pilot season. Young men and women who have been single for all their lives will come together on the highly anticipated reality release, Better Late Than Single. It is known that Seo In Guk, Kang Han Na, Lee Eun Ji, and Car, the Garden (Cha Jung Won), will be leading the participants on their love journeys on the show. Turning into coaches, they will guide the love-amateurs as they meet other people of the opposite gender on the program and try their hand at finding their partner. It is said to be following a 'first-love' concept, where these 'always singles' will experience their first-ever love stories, that too in front of many cameras. So far, the teasers have displayed an exciting front to the viewers with laughter, nervousness, nail-biting tension and more emotions seeping through the screen. Here's when you can tune into all-new episodes of the show. Episodes 1–3: July 8 Episodes 4–6: July 15 Episodes 7–8: July 22 Episodes 9–10: July 29 Other reality shows you can check out on Netflix With Netflix's successful Korean unscripted release slate including Single's Inferno which became the benchmark for dating reality shows, The Devil's Plan which was quickly renewed for season 2 after its debut, Physical: 100 which invited another part and then a global version, and Culinary Class Wars which went viral and found resounding praise globally, it looks like another hit is on their hands. Meanwhile, more Korean dating reality shows have caught the attention of worldwide fans including Heart Signal, Transit Love, Shining Solo, Change Days, Love After Divorce, My Sibling's Romance, Love Catcher, Divorced Singles, Cohabitation, Not Marriage, Last Love, I Am Solo, Nineteen To Twenty, and more.
