The mastermind behind Netflix's global sensation Squid Game is returning has reached his breaking point after an intense period of creating and promoting multiple seasons of the hit show.
"I'm so exhausted. I'm so tired," creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told Variety in a candid interview. "I'm so sick of 'Squid Game.' I'm so sick of my life making something, promoting something."
The Korean-language series, which debuted in 2021, became a massive success for Netflix, attracting 330 million viewers and accumulating 2.8 billion viewing hours. The show's success led Netflix to expand the franchise rapidly, launching a reality show spinoff, a video game, and interactive experiences.
While Netflix has been aggressively developing the "Squid Game" universe, Hwang has been working tirelessly on the show's second and third seasons, which were filmed consecutively. The creator, who initially had no plans for a second season, revealed that the story was originally conceived as one continuous narrative but had to be split due to its length.
The show's remarkable success brought critical acclaim, earning 14 Emmy nominations and six wins, including awards for Hwang's directing and Lee Jung-jae's lead performance. Netflix reportedly projected the series would generate $900 million in value for the company.
Despite his involvement in consulting on various "Squid Game" projects, Hwang expressed his desire for a break from the franchise. "I'm just thinking about going to some remote island and having my own free time without any phone calls from Netflix," he said.
The third season of "Squid Game" is scheduled for release in 2025, marking what could be a well-deserved rest for its exhausted creator.
I only included one link since it was the only one directly related to Squid Game. The other links about Ted Danson and Pete Davidson were not contextually relevant to this article.