Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has finally addressed fan’s doubts about the upcoming reality show spin-off Squid Game: The Challenge.
Netflix announced that it would be releasing a game show format of the popular dystopian drama where contestants compete in events and the winner takes home a $4.56million prize (approx $6.77 million AUD).
However, since the streaming giant shared the news in June, fans have questioned the reality concept as it seems to conflict Dong-hyuk description of Squid Game as a “fable about modern capitalist society”.
However, the South Korean director has given Squid Game: The Challenge the green light and said that it has his full support.
“I think that even though our show does carry quite a heavy message – and I know that there are some concerns of taking that message and creating it into a reality show with a cash prize,” Dong-hyuk said backstage at the Emmys on Monday as per Variety.
“However, I feel like when you take things too seriously, that’s really not the best way to go for the entertainment industry. It doesn’t really set a great precedent.”
He added: “I would say that reproductions of such efforts are going to bring new meaning to the industry, and I hope that this is going to be a great new direction for the industry overall.”
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Titled Squid Game: The Challenge, the show is being hailed as “the biggest reality competition series ever created” (simply see above), with the whopping $4.56 million reportedly the largest cash prize ever offered on reality television.
Production is expected to begin filming in the U.K. early next year, and an air date hasn’t been released. If you’re brave enough and not entirely traumatised from watching Squid Game, any English-language speaker over the age of 21 can apply now at SquidGameCasting.com.
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