Netflix Seeks Recruits For Real-Life ‘Squid Game’

Netflix has announced intentions to produce a real-life “Squid Game” reality TV show, and it’s looking for English-speaking contestants to compete for a multi-million dollar reward.
It will not, however, be a life or death situation, as shown in the South Korean drama. Instead, 456 candidates from all over the world will compete in games in which “the worst fate is walking home empty-handed” — missing out on a prize pool of $4.56 million (£3.8 million).
The series will involve games based on the original drama, and players will be put to the test by establishing strategies and alliances, according to Netflix.
Earlier this week, Netflix confirmed that the popular comedy would be renewed for a second season.
What they have to say
“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,” Netflix’s vice president of unscripted and documentary series, Brandon Riegg, said in a statement announcing the show.
“As players participate in a variety of games inspired by the original program – plus some surprising new additions – their plans, alliances, and character will be tested as competitors are eliminated around them,” he explained.
What you need to know
- Squid Game is a South Korean thriller series about debt-ridden people engaging in a deadly series of children’s games for a large cash reward.
- It is Netflix’s most popular series of all time, with 111 million people watching it in the first 28 days of its release.
- “It took 12 years to bring the first season of Squid Game to life last year,” Hwang Dong-hyuk, director, writer, and executive producer of Squid Game, said in a statement on Monday. Squid Game, on the other hand, just needed 12 days to become the most popular Netflix series ever.”
- Netflix is up against stiff competition from streaming competitors, but it was also hurt after raising pricing and exiting Russia.
- In April, it revealed a sharp drop in subscribers and warned millions more are set to quit the streaming service.