With fans holding their breath for the return of Squid Game this year, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos teased that the upcoming second season "will blow your mind" following his recent visit to South Korea.
Sarandos visited the production set of Squid Game Season 2 this past weekend during his 2-day trip to South Korea, where also met with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae.
The Screen Actors Guild/Emmy Award-winning actor and Golden Globe nominee will reprise his role as Gi-hun, the surviving winner of the show's competition in which contestants compete in a series of deadly games for the chance to win a large cash prize.
In a statement shared via Netflix, Sarandos said on Monday: "I couldn't visit Korea without experiencing the production of one of our most anticipated shows of 2024—the second season of Squid Game."
The Netflix chief, who was pictured on the set, sitting just behind Emmy-winning Squid Game writer/director Hwang Dong-hyuk, said: "While I can't share any spoilers, I can say the new games will blow your mind, and I was thrilled by the scale of the sets."
"Director Hwang's vision is such a powerful example of how Korean—and non-English titles—can be locally authentic while finding new international audiences on Netflix," Sarandos said.
During his trip, he also met with Yoon and Squid Game's Lee over a luncheon at Yoon's presidential residence, a spokesperson for the president said on Sunday, according to The Korea Times.
Sarandos said his meeting with the president aimed to "reaffirm our commitment to the industry and to the next generation of Korean creatives."
According to the president's spokesperson, the Netflix chief and the president discussed the development of the two countries' "cultural alliance" through the collaboration of Korean content and global platforms in the U.S., The Korea Times reported Sunday.
Sarandos' latest visit marks his second trip to South Korea since his last one in June last year.
Back in April 2023, Sarandos said that "over the next four years, we will invest $2.5 billion in Korea."
Echoing what was expressed during his last visit, he said on Monday that "we are investing significantly in Korea" and will "continue to ensure to spotlight new voices in front and behind the camera." The Netflix chief said that between 2022 and 2025, one in five Netflix titles in Korea will have come from a first-time writer or director.
Sarandos' latest South Korea visit follows Netflix's unveiling earlier this month of the first images from the second season of Squid Game, the exact release date for which has yet to be confirmed.
Asked about a rough release date for the premiere of the second season, a spokesperson for Netflix told Newsweek earlier this month that "we don't have much information to share just yet."
The latest pictures from Season 2 featured Lee's character with a stripped back look from the striking fiery red hair and blue suit he sported in the final scene of the first season.
The images also featured shots of the Front Man and the Salesman, played by Lee Byung-hun (familiar to Western audiences from the G.I. Joe film series and The Magnificent Seven) and Gong Yoo (from Train to Busan, The Silent Sea and other K-dramas and Korean films), respectively.
The two mysterious characters are among the returning cast members in the new season, in addition to Wi Ha-jun in the role of the policeman who infiltrates the games.
Back in June last year, Netflix also revealed the star-studded final cast of the second season, including Park Gyu-young (from Sweet Home and Celebrity on Netflix), who will be playing a new character in the show.
An image of Park's character was also showcased among the recent first-look images. Other famed faces joining the series include Lee Jin-uk (from Sweet Home and Doona! on Netflix) and Choi Seung-hyun, also known as T.O.P, who is a former member of major K-pop group BigBang.
The second season of Squid Game will be available for streaming on Netflix later this year.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in travel and health.
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