Squid Game writer-director Hwang Dong-hyuk has considered asking Leonardo DiCaprio to join the cast of his series for a future storyline beyond Season 2, which is set to premiere in 2024.
According to Variety, Hwang recently attended a press conference in Seoul where he was asked about the possibility of a Hollywood actor being involved in the second season of the hit Netflix series. In response, he confirmed that it's not part of his plans for the next round of games but that he is open to the idea of expanding the cast to include such a star in the future "if time or chances allow."
"There will be no known Hollywood actor in Season 2," Hwang said, though he acknowledged that there might be an opportunity to evolve in the future. "That's not in the plan and if the stage changes, maybe in Season 3 – but for Season 2, it is still set in Korea. Leonardo DiCaprio did say he's a big fan of Squid Game, so maybe if time or chances allow, we can ask him to join the games."
Hwang also shared more about his production plans and release schedule for the second season, confirming that cameras will start rolling in 2023 ready for new episodes to drop in 2024. "We will start shooting Season 2 next year and it'll be released the following year," he said of the show's next outing, which is expected to have an improved budget over the last season.
The first season of Squid Game saw hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in various children's games with deadly high stakes. Those games included the likes of Tug-of-War, which is popular across the globe, and Ddakji, which is less familiar to those outside of South Korea. It's unknown which games will be played next season, but Hwang confirmed that the roster is set.
Squid Game was one of last year's breakout streaming hits and IGN's best television show of 2021, reaching a "mind-boggling" 214 million subscribers worldwide. Hwang previously confirmed that Squid Game would be returning, though he noted that Season 2 might not be strictly about the contestants as he would like to further explore the role of the Korean police in the series.
Alongside Season 2, Hwang is working on a satirical comedy about the creation of Squid Game and the series' unprecedented popularity. He is also in talks with Netflix about a potential third season to further expand the universe he has created. In addition, he is developing a "controversial film" called Killing Old People Club, which is an adaptation of a novel by Italian essayist Umberto Eco.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.