The Korean show, Squid Game, has already been confirmed to return. Unfortunately, Netflix has not yet revealed an exact release date for Squid Game Season 2.
So when news of a Squid Game: The Challenge show came out, many couldn't help but think that this is already the second season of the hit Korean series.
But no, Squid Game: The Challenge is not yet the highly anticipated second season of Squid Game. Instead, it is a reality competition that got released in November 2023.
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So will the game show contestants be killed off like in the Korean series? Hopefully, not! Here's what we know about the reality competition.
Squid Game: The Challenge Release Date
While waiting for Squid Game Season 2 to be released, we can look forward to Squid Game: The Challenge.
The good news is that this show is now available to watch on Netflix. There are a total of 10 episodes available.
The first five episodes came out on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. The next four episodes will be available on Wednesday, November 29. And finally, the last episode will air on Wednesday, December 6.
The episode release guide follows these dates:
- Episode 1: Red Light, Green Light - Wednesday, November 22, 2023
- Episode 2: The Man With The Umbrella - Wednesday, November 22, 2023
- Episode 3: War - Wednesday, November 22, 2023
- Episode 4: Nowhere To Hide - Wednesday, November 22, 2023
- Episode 5: Trick Or Treat - Wednesday, November 22, 2023
- Episode 6: Goodbye - Wednesday, November 29, 2023
- Episode 7: Friend or Foe - Wednesday, November 29, 2023
- Episode 8: One Step Closer - Wednesday, November 29, 2023
- Episode 9: Circle of Trust - Wednesday, November 29, 2023
- Episode 10: One Lucky Day - Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Will Squid Game: The Challenge Be a Real Competition?
Shortly after its release in 2021, Hwang Dong-hyuk's Squid Game series captured audiences from around the world. Fans enjoyed watching the show for its unique material that kept them on the edge of their seats.
In less than a year, the show was renewed by Netflix and announced that a second season will be coming out soon. But as avid fans wait for the release of Squid Game Season 2, a reality competition inspired by the show is slated for release this year.
So, yes, Squid Game: The Challenge is a real competition that stars ordinary people. It drew inspiration from the hit K-drama series.
Just like the show, Squid Game: The Challenge has 10 episodes. The contestants will all compete in specially designed challenges as they try to win the prize.
The big difference between Squid Game: The Challenge and its source material though is that the contestants won't meet a violent ending if they fail to proceed to the next challenge. Whew!
You can watch the official teaser here:
What Does the Winner of Squid Game: The Challenge Win?
Another thing that Squid Game: The Challenge shares with its source material is that there will be a total of 456 players in the game. If you can recall, Player 456 (or Seong Gi-hun) was played by Lee Jung-jae.
Squid Game: The Challenge will also have 456 contestants who are competing for the grand prize: an astonishing $4.56 million. This is noted as the biggest prize fund in reality TV history.
The challenges that the players will face in the reality competition may be the same as the ones in the show. There will also be some "surprising new additions" to these challenges.
Who Will Be In Squid Game: The Challenge Show?
Right now, no information about the players has been revealed. We simply know that there will be 456 competitors who will likely be from different parts of the world.
The series was filmed in the UK.
What Is the Controversy Behind Squid Game: The Challenge?
For a reality competition with astounding prize money, Squid Game: The Challenge is likely to take things seriously. And because of this, there has been some controversy about the show.
As reported by Collider, several contestants needed medical attention after facing cold temperatures while playing the first challenge: Red Light, Green Light.
Netflix has responded to this report and assured its audience that there were serious injuries were not sustained throughout the filming of the show. But three contestants spoke with Variety and shared some of the things they had to endure:
- Contestants were woken up as early as 3:30 am and had to go through a two-hour ride to a former hangar where they filmed the challenges.
- They were under strict orders not to converse with each other. They also had to wear their uniforms but had to leave their jackets open while playing the game.
- Contestants were allowed to take "relaxation breaks" but were prohibited to move their feet.
- Throughout the entire shoot, contestants were not allowed to take bathroom and water breaks.
- They did not have enough food and were even given "a meager McDonald's meal."
"The conditions were absolutely inhumane and had nothing to do with the game."
One of the contestants who spoke with Variety shared that she was "infuriated by the narrative that Netflix is putting out there, that only [a few] people were inured… we were all injured just by going through that experience."
The contestants were carefully picked by Studio Lambert. But when the game started, the contestant shared:
"I was thinking, 'This is gonna be a great experience; these are great folks!' But once the game started, I said, 'What happened to these people? What happened to them caring about us?'"
Despite the controversy, Netflix pushed through with filming the reality competition.
Is There a Trailer for Squid Game: The Challenge?
When Netflix started accepting applicants for Squid Game: The Challenge, it released these two teaser trailers:
And this one:
The official teaser was released on September 22, 2023. We have shared it above.
You can watch the official trailer, which was released on October 23, 2023:
Squid Game: The Challenge is now available on Netflix.
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