It’s no secret that Squid Game has been one of Netflix’s biggest hits. Alongside the likes of BTS and Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite, it became a flagship in the boom of Korean pop-culture phenomena – and the most popular show on the world’s biggest streaming platform. After three critically acclaimed seasons of the original drama, and a successful reality gameshow series as well, it’s hardly a surprise that Netflix would want to expand the franchise. For years now, there have been rumours of a US-produced spin-off with David Fincher involved, which fans theorised might link to Cate Blanchett’s appearance as an American recruiter in the series’ finale. However, it seems that the project has been given the red light.
According to The Playlist, the US Squid Game spin-off – codename ‘Heckler’ – is no longer moving forward. The reports states that Netflix’s goals for Squid Game have changed, with thoughts of having many culture-specific spin-offs for many international markets, rather than one large American companion show. That said, there is no indication that any of these off shoots have begun to move into production. Fincher’s show was never officially confirmed in Netflix’s upcoming releases, and though Blanchett had said that she was willing to return to her brief role, there is nothing definitive to suggest that the rumoured project was ever supposed to have her reprise that character.
Still, the original Squid Game isn’t going anywhere, so fans will have to remained satisfied in rewatching that for the time being. Meanwhile, for those interested in Fincher’s next project, he is directing the upcoming Once Upon A Time In Hollywood spin-off film, The Adventures Of Cliff Booth, which is set to arrive on Netflix on December 23 this year.
