Following the global success of Squid Game, Netflix has officially given a series order to a brand new reality competition show, titled Squid Game: The Challenge, based on the popular South Korean survival drama. Just like in the series, the competition will feature 456 real players, with a global casting search now underway.
“Squid Game took the world by storm with Director Hwang’s captivating story and iconic imagery,” Netflix VP of Unscripted and Documentary Series Brandon Rie said in a statement. “We’re grateful for his support as we turn the fictional world into reality in this massive competition and social experiment. Fans of the drama series are in for a fascinating and unpredictable journey as our 456 real-world contestants navigate the biggest competition series ever, full of tension and twists, with the biggest ever cash prize at the end.”
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In Squid Game: The Challenge, players will be competing for the chance to win $4.56 million, which is the largest lump sum cash prize in reality TV history. The show is expected to be filmed in the UK. It hails from Studio Lambert (The Circle) and The Garden (24 Hours in A&E), part of ITV Studios.
“As they compete through a series of games inspired by the original show – plus surprising new additions – their strategies, alliances, and character will be put to the test while competitors are eliminated around them,” reads the logline. “The stakes are high, but in this game, the worst fate is going home empty-handed.”
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Squid Game: The Challenge will be executive produced by Stephen Lambert, Tim Harcourt, and Toni Ireland from Studio Lambert and John Hay, Nicola Hill, and Nicola Brown from The Garden.
Due to its critical and commercial success, the original series has earned three Golden Globe nominations, including South Korean veteran actor O Yeong-su winning Best Supporting Actor in a Series for his portrayal of Oh Il-nam/Player 001. It also made history by becoming the first non-English show to receive four major SAG nominations, with Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon winning Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor and Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor.
