The debut season of 'Squid Game', created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, premiered in 2021 and became a cultural phenomenon.
Squid Game (Netflix)
Netflix has set the stage for an exciting year in 2024, and among the highly anticipated returning titles is the second season of the Korean-language survival drama phenomenon, Squid Game.
In a recent letter to shareholders, the streaming giant unveiled its ambitious slate, promising audiences a mix of hit dramas, unscripted series, and new shows set to hit the streaming platform in the coming year.
“Looking ahead, despite last year’s strikes pushing back the launch of some titles, we have a big, bold slate for 2024,” the letter began.
“Audiences will be able to choose from hit returning dramas like The Diplomat S2, Bridgerton S3, Squid Game S2 and Empress S2; unscripted series like Tour de France: Unchained S2, Love is Blind S6, F1: Drive to Survive S6 and Full Swing S2; and brand new shows like 3 Body Problem (based on the best selling novel and from the Game of Thrones showrunners), Griselda (starring Sofia Vergara, which premieres this week), The Gentlemen (from Guy Ritchie), Eric (starring Benedict Cumberbatch), Avatar: The Last Airbender, Cien Años de Soledad, from Colombia based on the novel by Gabriel García Márquez and Senna from Brazil.”
The debut season of Squid Game, created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, premiered in 2021 and became a cultural phenomenon.
The survival drama — centred around a deadly competition among impoverished participants vying for a massive cash prize — garnered massive popularity and critical acclaim. The first season was nominated for an impressive 14 Emmys and secured six wins, including the groundbreaking achievement of winning Best Drama Series, marking a historic moment for non-English-language content.
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The accolades didn't stop there, as Squid Game continued to make history at the 2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards by securing nominations for cast in a drama series, actor in a drama series (Lee Jung-jae), actress in a drama series (Jung Ho-yeon), and stunt ensemble.
The series emerged victorious with wins for Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon. As well as this, Squid Game clinched three Golden Globe Awards, including Best TV Drama.
Back in November, Netflix debuted the first season of its spin-off reality game series, Squid Game: The Challenge, where 456 contestants vie for a prize of a whopping $4.56 million, the largest cash prize ever offered in reality TV history.
However, following the show, two contestants on the reality series threatened legal action against the streaming giant, claiming that they experienced injuries while the show was filmed in Bedford in the UK.
The unnamed individuals claimed that they had suffered from hypothermia and nerve damage and solicited the help of British personal injury lawyers Express Solicitors.
According to a new Deadline report, the lawyers have sent letters of their clients’ claims to Squid Game: The Challenge co-producers Studio Lambert and Netflix.
“Contestants thought they were taking part in something fun, and those injured did not expect to suffer as they did,” Daniel Slade, CEO of Express Solicitors, told Deadline. “Now they have been left with injuries after spending time being stuck in painful stress positions in cold temperatures.”
A spokesperson for Squid Game: The Challenge commented, “No lawsuit has been filed by any of the Squid Game contestants. We take the welfare of our contestants extremely seriously.”