
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Though it comes as no surprise given the show’s unprecedented success, a second season of the Korean drama <em>Squid Game </em>is in the works at Netflix, according to the streaming giant’s co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Sarandos&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGGThGUZp4g" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>&nbsp;during a discussion of Netflix’s fourth-quarter earnings, “The&nbsp;<em>Squid Game&nbsp;</em>universe has just begun,” and replied “absolutely,” when asked if the show would be getting a second season.</p>



<p>The show’s creator Hwang Dong-hyuk&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/APEntertainment/status/1458060909319004170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1458060909319004170%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fvariety.com%2F2021%2Ftv%2Fnews%2Fsquid-game-season-2-netflix-1235108088%2F" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a>&nbsp;the Associated Press in November that&nbsp;<em>Squid Game&nbsp;</em>would “indeed” be getting a second season, but Sarandos’ confirmation is the first word from a Netflix official.</p>



<p>Hwang said that actor Lee Jung-jae will return as the show’s protagonist, Seong Gi-hun.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Netflix&nbsp;<a href="https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/squid-game-all-time-most-popular-show-netflix-1235113196/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>&nbsp;in November the show generated 1.65 billion hours viewed in its first four weeks on the platform.</p>



<p>In the company’s&nbsp;<a href="https://s22.q4cdn.com/959853165/files/doc_financials/2021/q3/FINAL-Q3-21-Shareholder-Letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">third-quarter</a>&nbsp;earnings letter in October, it reported&nbsp;<em>Squid Game</em>&nbsp;had reached 142 million member houses, making it its biggest show ever.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Leaked Netflix estimates seen by Bloomberg in October said the show would create nearly <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-17/squid-game-season-2-series-worth-900-million-to-netflix-so-far" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$900 million</a> in value for the streaming giant.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TANGENT</h2>



<p>The show’s popularity hasn’t translated to a huge spike in subscribers the way shareholders would hope. Netflix gained 4.4 million net subscribers in the quarter&nbsp;<em>Squid Game&nbsp;</em>was released, with just 70,000 coming from the U.S. and Canada. The company’s fourth-quarter earnings report, which showed a continued dip in subscriber growth compared to its early-pandemic success, contributed to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/masonbissada/2022/01/20/netflix-stock-plunges-20-following-disappointing-earnings-report/?sh=425085d56326">20% drop</a>&nbsp;in its stock price in after-hours trading Thursday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>Hwang said in November the show’s season 2 release date was unclear: “I do think it’s too early to say when and how that’s going to happen,” he told the AP.</p>



<p><strong><em>By Mason Bissada, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


Tag: Squid Game

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‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Is Happening, Netflix CEO Confirms