Cast of Netflix’s K-drama ‘Squid Game’ on what fans can look forward to in season 3

At the press conference, director Hwang reflects on the journey: “It’s been about a five-year journey and this is the end game. We really poured our heart and soul into this season.” Byung-hun adds: “I think you can have your hopes up high for this last season.”

Squid Game’s season three trailer teases new and even more perilous games, promising a final confrontation that will determine the fate of the Games once and for all. Director Hwang notes that while there were plenty of untied knots in season two, the final season hopes to tie all of them together. “I hope that people will think this is a conclusion that does Squid Game justice,” he continues.

As anticipation builds, a press conference was held featuring director Hwang along with the cast, including Jung-jae, Byung-hun, Ha-joon, Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Jo Yu-ri, Chae Kook-hee, David Lee and Roh Jae-won. The conference saw them share more insights on the final season. From the final journey of each character to the themes of the season, the cast and director share some facts about the season before its release.

Squid Game’s first season highlighted an underlying message of desperation and moral compromise, while its second season was a satire of the current world we live in. In the third season, director Hwang did not set out with a specific message but rather asked the question of whether we are able to leave future generations with a better future.

The end of season two left viewers with more questions than answers, particularly when it came to the fates of each character. Director Hwang has assured fans that the final season will resolve these lingering mysteries, promising a satisfying conclusion hat ties all storylines together.

For example, season two saw the demise of half of Thanos’s (Played by former Big Bang member Top) clique, with Park Min-su (Player 125) and Nam-gyu (Player 124) remaining. The final season will explore how these two continue to navigate the games. David Lee who plays Park hints: “[My character] is going to pull out some traits that we have not seen [in season two].”

As with previous seasons, viewers can expect a fresh lineup of nostalgic Korean childhood games, each with a deadly twist. The newly released trailer teases high-stakes challenges such as jump rope, mazes and a lethal version of hide and seek. Director Hwang also hinted several new games, not released in the trailer, will also make their debut this season.

One of the most intriguing additions is the introduction of a new killer doll Cheol-su. “Yeong-hee and Cheol-su are always seen together in our elementary school textbooks so I wanted both of them to star in the show. I wanted to play a game where both of them take part,” he explains. 

Despite the series being based off traditional children’s games in Korea, Byung-hun believes it resonates globally as the series deals with universal themes that reflect what’s happening in today’s society. “While [the series] acutely touches on these important themes, at the end of the day, [the series] is about the absence of humanity which I think is universally resonant,” he continues, highlighting how the story is about how we can make the world a better place. “Regardless of what country and what cultural background you’re from, these themes are universally resonant and relevant,” he says.

Agreeing with Byung-hun, Ha-jun explains how pain is perceived in a “nuanced and detailed way”, through a range of characters. “It’s just a smaller version of that actual world that we live in,” he adds.

While fans are currently hoping for a season four, director Hwang explains that another season won’t be necessary after watching the ending of season three. That said, he isn’t closed to the idea of returning to the world of Squid Game. He says: “If opportunity allows, I am thinking of maybe doing a spin off in the Squid Game universe. As I create and write [the script] I too get curious [about these characters] myself.”

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