The highly anticipated return of a cultural sensation is upon us. Next month marks the debut of the second season of the global hit series, Squid Game, which took audiences by storm three years ago. While its immense success initially left fans wondering about the future of the franchise, the confirmation of a sequel has finally arrived. In a recent interview with the BBC, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk candidly shared his motivations for continuing the story of the intense competitions. Rather than offering the typical responses about creativity or storytelling, he provided a refreshingly straightforward reason for embarking on this new chapter:
Money. Despite the first season's remarkable achievements on a worldwide scale, I must admit that my earnings were quite modest.
This straightforwardness is indeed striking. As anticipation builds for the upcoming season, it’s clear that the stakes are even higher this time, as Dong-hyuk expressed an increased sense of pressure:
The burden I carry feels significantly more intense now.
Viewers will find out if this pressure translates into another captivating season when it premieres on December 26. Fans hope that this time around, the creator receives a fair share of the profits generated by the series, ensuring that the true originator of the squid game can also reap the rewards alongside the platform’s executives.