The new season of Squid Game is just around the corner, and the show’s lead actor has responded to the idea that clips released of the show seem ‘Americanised’.
Lee Jung-jae, who plays Seong Gi-hun aka player 456, returns for season two as the lead actor once again.
The show has hundreds of poor ‘contestants’ compete to earn a life changing sum of money by taking part in deadly twists on childhood games.
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The series was a huge hit, becoming the most watched show in Netflix’s history, beating Wednesday and even Stranger Things.
Despite this, where the show once came out of nowhere to dominate 2021, it is now a cultural touchstone before season two comes out, and with it comes added expectation and criticism.
Speaking exclusively to LADbible, Jung-jae clarified his thoughts on the idea from viewers that the second season has deviated from its Korean routes and become ‘Americanised’.
He said: “We just actually tried our very best to create an amazing season two, because we know that there is so much love and support from the fans of season one, but maybe you thought it looked a little bit Hollywood?
“Well, that was not our intention, but we just wanted to create a really amazing season two, and we try to perfect every episode and every cut that is in the episode. So that's what I can tell you about”.
The second season releases on Boxing Day this year, and is hotly anticipated.
The show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, returns to write the second season and spoke to LADbible about the MrBeast Squid Game YouTube video.
The main criticism levied at MrBeast's video is that, according to Vice's Gita Jackson in 2021, it displayed a 'fundamental problem' with YouTube.
The article continued: "There is no shortage of people who make original art and put it online, but the internet is dominated instead by people who can take advantage of existing properties and fan bases."
Regarding the idea that MrBeast may have ripped off and misunderstood the concept of the show, Dong-hyuk said: “I don't think so. In fact, I think that, as a whole, is the message of Squid Game.
"You know the themes of the Squid Games is about the capitalist society, where everything is commoditised and everything is calculated with money.”
He went on to say: “I want to say here that the series of Squid Game is not created to enlighten or awaken anybody.
"It is a product that is created to generate revenue, right?
“Having said that, to have people watch a show like that, to recreate the game on their own, make their own versions, I think all of it is very much in line with the capitalist society that is depicted in Squid Game.”
Squid Game season two releases on Netflix, December 26.
Topics: Lee Jung-jae, MrBeast, Netflix, YouTube, Squid Game
Michael Slavin