Latest news with #TheFrontMan
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Lee Byung Hun breaks silence on the 'Front Man' spin-off rumors amid Squid Game 3 buzz
Would Lee Byung Hun play the lead in a follow-up Squid Game as the series comes to a close? Since an American adaptation directed by David Fincher appears to be planning to be filmed for the fall of this year, the question has been on numerous minds. Hwang Dong Hyuk , the director, has so far denied any involvement in the project. The actor who plays Hwang In Ho himself has confirmed that he is willing to appear in the show and appears to be very interested in the potential next plot. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter , Lee Byung Hun discussed plans with the show's writer for a potential spin-off of The Front Man. 'Director Hwang and I have been joking about a Front Man spin-off since the beginning. We both thought that the Front Man or the recruiter could be interesting for more story, because we haven't really explored these characters in their entirety yet. Their backstory is still vague, and their character is still a little murky,' he stated. Although the specifics are still being worked out, they appear willing to explore their options. Regarding whether the actor would play the role himself, he expressed a positive preference, saying, 'To look at the Front Man with a full character study would be a very fun thing to do. So, as for your question—of course I'd be willing to star in it. The character has already been built and designed, and I'm very compelled by him. Just as the fans are curious to know more about him, I am too. That's a story I'd be very willing to tell.' What was the outcome of Squid Game 3? At the conclusion of Squid Game, Lee Byung Hun, who portrayed the Front Man in all three seasons, was still alive. After winning the game, Player 222 's baby receives all of the money, and he can be seen tying up loose ends by giving his family the money that belonged to Lee Jung Jae's Seong Gi Hun. Hwang Jun Ho, played by Wi Ha Joon, became the child's guardian. A The Front Man spin-off seems very likely given his encounter with Cate Blanchett , who seems to have assumed The Salesman's role following Gong Yoo's departure. Before, Hwang Dong Hyuk seemed interested in examining a plot between seasons 1 and 2 to discuss what occurs with Seong Gi Hun as he explores the origins of Squid Game and wins 4.56 billion KRW.
Pink Villa
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Squid Game 3 star Lee Byung Hun reacts to The Front Man spin-off rumors: ‘I'm very compelled…'
Would Lee Byung Hun star in another Squid Game version as the series closes off with a finale? The question has been on the minds of many, as an American version by David Fincher is seemingly planning its production in the fall of this year. However, director Hwang Dong Hyuk has denied his involvement in the project as of now. The actor behind Hwang In Ho himself seems very interested in the possible next story and affirmed his willingness to appear in the show. Lee Byung Hun spoke about a possible The Front Man spin-off to The Hollywood Reporter, shedding light on plans with the writer of the show. 'Director Hwang and I have been joking about a Front Man spin-off since the beginning. We both thought that the Front Man or the recruiter could be interesting for more story, because we haven't really explored these characters in their entirety yet. Their backstory is still vague, and their character is still a little murky.' While the details have not been set in place, they seem open to trying out their options. As for whether the actor would appear in it himself, there was positive inclination from his end, 'To look at the Front Man with a full character study would be a very fun thing to do. So, as for your question — of course I'd be willing to star in it. The character has already been built and designed, and I'm very compelled by him. Just as the fans are curious to know more about him, I am too. That's a story I'd be very willing to tell.' How did Squid Game 3 end? Lee Byung Hun, who played The Front Man in all 3 seasons of Squid Game, remained alive at the end of the series. He can be seen closing off loose ends by handing over the money that belonged to Lee Jung Jae's Seong Gi Hun to his family, and Player 222's baby gets all the money after winning the game. Wi Ha Joon's Hwang Jun Ho turned into the guardian for the kid. With his Cate Blanchett encounter, who seems to have taken over The Salesman role after Gong Yoo's end, it appears more than likely that a The Front Man spin-off could be possible. Previously, Hwang Dong Hyuk looked interested in exploring a story between seasons 1 and 2 to talk about what happens with Seong Gi Hun as he wins 4.56 billion KRW and investigates the origin of Squid Game.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Front Man Speaks: ‘Squid Game' Star Lee Byung-hun Unpacks His Character's Mysterious Inner Thoughts
[This story contains MAJOR spoilers from the season three finale, 'Humans are …'] Lee Byung-hun's masked antagonist, known as The Front Man, has stalked the edges of Squid Game since its debut — the coolly enigmatic figure who oversees the show's merciless contest with a disturbing sense of detachment. But in seasons two and three, and especially in the series finale released last Friday, the character steps ever further into the spotlight, revealing new dimensions of sorrow, cynicism, and maybe even a lingering sliver of moral conflict. More from The Hollywood Reporter Tennis Star Taylor Fritz Is Eyeing His First Grand Slam - and He Really Hates to Lose 'The Residence' Was Mostly Good, But It Didn't Quite Earn a Second Season Moncler Casts Real Life Couple Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz Beckham in "London, A Love Affair" Campaign Played with masterful restraint by Lee, one of Korea's most celebrated movie stars of the last two decades, the Front Man is enigma personified, a man hollowed by tragedy whose only apparent joy is his unnerving devotion to procedure — and perhaps the occasional whisky sipped in solitude. But the Game grows increasingly personal for him after Gi-hun, aka Player 456 (Lee Jung-jae), re-enters the contest on a mission to challenge its central tenant — that human beings are fundamentally selfish and unworthy of grace or respect. In face of Gi-hun's sacrifice and unwavering commitment to basic human dignity, does a crack ultimately emerge in The Front Man's fatalism, or will he always remain the Game's loyal servant? In a wide-ranging sit-down with The Hollywood Reporter, Lee opened up about his character's evolution and the layered meaning behind several of the finale's most debated moments — including the Front Man's cryptic encounter with Gi-hun's daughter, and that unexpected encounter with the recruiter played by Cate Blanchett on the streets of Los Angeles. *** From the beginning, has been famed for its exceedingly dark vision of humanity, and the real world outside the show has arguably only grown darker during the five years since the series first went into production. Rather than dwelling on that, though, I wanted to start by asking whether there was anything about making that gave you hope, or made you feel better about human nature in an unexpected course, Squid Game is a show that explores the darkest aspects of our social and political situation, while also diagnosing an absence of humanity. So to see a story like that resonate with people all around the world? I was happy the show we had worked so hard on was successful. But another part of me, I have to admit, felt quite bitter about the fact that these issues resonated with so many people in such an urgent way. Later, though, I had another thought: The show ultimately says that we need to wake up and look at what we're doing to each other. So, the fact that people all around the world are connecting with this show and stopping to engage with and think about these themes — our collective loss of humanity — that could also mean there is hope for us. That's the hopeful way of looking at the whole phenomenon. The Front Man is profoundly enigmatic throughout the full run of . What did you come to understand about his beliefs and motivations throughout the process of making the show?You get a brief backstory of him in the series. He had a previous life as a police detective. He was a very ordinary guy with an ordinary family. But due to some really extreme and unfortunate circumstances, he lost his wife and child, and he experienced intense betrayal and desperation, which is what drove him to take part in Squid Game. Once inside the Game, he witnesses even more brutality and extreme cruelty right in front of him, and all of this makes him into an extremely pessimistic and cynical person who believes that there is no hope left for the world or humanity. And so, as he watches Gi-hun, he thinks that Gi-hun is too naive — and that he will end up just like himself, and only time will tell. About that last point, there were some key moments where I was really curious what the Front Man was actually thinking and hoping for. One is when he gives Gi-hun the knife, and watches Gi-hun contemplating killing the other players in their sleep. The Front Man is watching him very intently, and the audience is given a flashback to a time when the Front Man was put in the same situation and killed everyone mercilessly. So, in that moment, is the Front Man hoping Gi-hun will kill everyone just as he did — or something else? I'm glad you asked, because that uncertainty is exactly what I wanted viewers to feel when they watched that scene. I played that scene thinking there are both sides to him. I believe the Front Man wanted Gi-hun to live, because Gi-hun is someone he feels differently about compared to the other players, because of the time they spent together inside the Game. So if Gi-hun had killed everyone just as the Front Man did, the Front Man would have felt a sense of victory, because he would have been proven right in his core belief. He could say, 'See? You've ended up just like me.' On the other hand, if Gi-hun doesn't go through with it — which is what happens — the Front Man will feel a sense of defeat. He would also feel a form of self-reproach, or even envy, in seeing Gi-hun protect his values in precisely the way that he failed to do. However, I think deep inside him, part of him was almost rooting for Gi-hun. The deepest part of him wanted to see Gi-hun not give in and continue to hold onto hope for the world and for humanity. So I played that scene thinking that he was feeling all of these things, but in the deepest sense, the latter. It's really amazing how much of that comes across in your performance, despite how little you say and how brief that scene is. Were there aspects of yourself — your memories, personality or beliefs — that you tapped into to help you play the Front Man, this very impressive but broken man?For actors, every life experience you go through, every emotion that you feel in life — it all becomes an asset. And I think that whether or not I was aware of it when I was reading the script, all of my personal experiences affected the way I approached the character. So, yeah, there were definitely moments in my life when I wondered about the loss or absence of humanity — and it deeply upset me. It's hard to pinpoint particular experiences or events, but I've been through some of those internal struggles. But the entire experience of just living life is what most affected the way I played this character. How did you interpret the scene in the finale between the Front Man and Gi-hun's daughter? Is he stirring the pot to try to get Gi-hun's daughter curious about the Games? Or is this encounter a sign of his somewhat restored humanity — that he wanted to give her closure, and personally deliver the money her father won? I asked that exact question to the director when we were filming — and he responded by asking me the same question. So we ended up talking a lot about this scene — what is he feeling at that point, and what should my headspace be while I'm trying to bring the scene to life? At the end of the day, I would have to say it's closer to the latter. He's had a little bit of humanity restored and he's offering what Gi-hun left behind with a little sliver of the goodness that's left in his heart. But at the same time, his strongest feeling is simply to make sure that everything is done fairly and by the rules of the Game. However, it's also perfectly natural for the audience to consider a lot of possibilities, as you just have. Is there another motive behind this? Is he signaling the beginning of a new game? Is he sowing the seed so that the Game can be continued? All of that is ultimately open for interpretation. We knew this scene would spark a lot of speculation, so we put a lot of thought into it — even down to the detail of whether the green tracksuit should be bloody or whether it should have been washed. Similarly, I was wondering why the Front Man gave his brother the baby and the baby's money. Could this be one more test of humanity versus greed — to see what his altruistic brother will do with all of that cash? Or does he simply think that his brother is a reliable person and this is the right thing to do?After everything he's been through, I think the Front Man is a little sick of testing people or putting them through trials at this point. I think that impulse may have left after the Game ended — especially after everything he went through in his confrontation with Gi-hun, and after witnessing Gi-hun's sacrifice. So I think he left the baby with his brother mainly because he doesn't have a lot of options. Most of all, like always, he wants to follow the rules. The baby won the game, so the money should go to the baby. His brother is family and he knows very deeply that his brother is a reliable and trustworthy person, and that he will protect the baby and make sure no one takes the child's money. The rules say the money goes to the child, and his brother can help ensure that. Okay, one last scene interpretation question. The Front Man's reaction to seeing the recruiter played by Cate Blanchett on the streets of Los Angeles — is he surprised, or did he already know that there's another recruiter out there and the Game, or Games, will continue elsewhere? I wasn't sure how to read his director and I talked a lot about this scene as well. What's interesting is that when I first read the script, I had a different impression. I thought the Front Man had already known that there was another game — exactly the same — unfolding in another country. But I asked the director, just in case, and he told me, 'Please play the scene by imagining that you didn't know she was there.' This was really confusing for me, because I got a very different impression from the script and we were quite close to filming at that point. So we discussed it quite a lot, and here's the tone I decided to go for in that moment: As the series started, the Front Man had nearly no hope left in humanity — there was only a tiny little shred of goodness left in him, subconsciously. But through his journey with Gi-hun, he was able to nurture that sliver of hope, and by the end, as his Game came to a close, he's trying to look at things differently, thinking, 'Maybe Gi-hun was right; maybe there's something still there.' And he's trying to reach this sense of closure, and the potential for a new beginning — and then he sees this other recruiter, pulling new players into the Game. And now he realizes that this never ends. It's all going to just keep going. So, that sense of bitterness is the main feeling he's experiencing in that moment. I actually wondered whether what I was trying to communicate would be delivered to viewers, so thank you for the question. Cate Blanchett's appearance has sparked a lot of speculation about a potential U.S.-based spin-off. I know nothing is official, but now that the Front Man knows the Game is underway in America, how do you imagine the Game would work in the United States?Well, depending on the culture and local circumstances, I suppose the ambience and the arena and the specifics of the games could be a little different. There could be some U.S. elements in there. But still, as we've been discussing, I believe the reason the series received so much love across the world is because people everywhere can relate to its overarching theme of loss of humanity. I think that aspect is essential, so the U.S. players would have to go through a lot of hardship and face impossible choices. The essence of the Game would be the same. Another possibility fans have gotten excited about is a Front Man spinoff or prequel. If Netflix and some of your key collaborators are behind it, would you be up for it?Director Hwang and I have been joking about a Front Man spin-off since the beginning. We both thought that the Front Man or the recruiter could be interesting for more story, because we haven't really explored these characters in their entirety yet. Their backstory is still vague, and their character is still a little murky. To look at the Front Man with a full character study would be a very fun thing to do. So, as for your question — of course I'd be willing to star in it. The character has already been built and designed, and I'm very compelled by him. Just as the fans are curious to know more about him, I am too. That's a story I'd be very willing to tell. *** The final season of Squid Game is now streaming on Netflix. Read THR's take on the finale cameo and how it could set up a spinoff and our two-part interview with creator Hwang Dong-hyuk on the final season and final scene. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Squid Game creator reveals Season 3 ending wasn't the original plan; shocking twist sets stage for more deadly games
Fans have been thrilled about Squid Game since its return with Season 3 on 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.
Economic Times
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Squid Game Season 3 ending wasn't the original plan, creator reveals shocking last-minute twist and teases more deadly games ahead
Squid Game is back with Season 3 on Netflix, and fans can't stop talking about it. Released on Friday, 27 June, the new season has received mixed reviews from both viewers and critics, especially when it comes to the ending. Now, the show's creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has revealed that the ending we saw wasn't what he had originally planned. The finale of Squid Game Season 3 brings both sadness and a small ray of hope. It completes the journey of Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), who makes the biggest sacrifice of all, he gives up his life so that Jun-hee and Myung-gi's newborn daughter can survive the deadly games. The baby becomes the symbolic 'last one standing.' Gi-hun's final act touches even the heart of In-ho, also known as The Front Man (played by Lee Byung-hun). Known for being cold and cruel, The Front Man shows a rare moment of kindness. He collects the baby from the arena and ensures she receives the full prize money, 45.6 billion won, in honour of Gi-hun's to 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 realised this should not be the way it ends. The new ending made more sense emotionally and was better for his character.'Hwang added that in his original version, Gi-hun was supposed to make the opposite choice in the finale. 'It was a very drastic change from my first idea to what ended up being the final story,' he explained. A big part of Season 3 is the clash of ideas between Gi-hun and The Front Man. Gi-hun believes people are basically good and kind, while The Front Man has lost all hope in humanity, thinking people are selfish by nature. This conflict builds up to their final confrontation, the emotional high point of the of the most powerful scenes is when Gi-hun, tempted to kill others in their sleep to survive, sees a vision of Sae-byeok (played by HoYeon Jung), his ally from Season 1. She reminds him, 'You're not that kind of person.' These words bring him back to his said this moment was key. 'It had to be simple but strong. Sae-byeok's words were the best way to stop Gi-hun from crossing a line.'While this season ends Gi-hun's story, and Hwang's involvement with the series, at least for now, there are signs that Squid Game could continue. In the final scenes, a new Recruiter (played by Cate Blanchett) appears, hinting at a future game in Los said, 'Even though the story has closure, I think it leaves behind a sense of longing. So maybe, if the timing is right, there's a chance for more stories someday.' Squid Game Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix. Have you watched it yet? Share your thoughts with us.
