Squid Game is making waves around the world and has become a worldwide sensation; the show revolves around 456 members from different walks of life. All the participants are deeply in debt and compete to win a prize that will change their lives! But the results can be deadly.
1. Squid Game is Now the #1 Show in 90 Different Countries
Squid Game is the #1 show for every country with only one or two exceptions. One would be Denmark, which has made the Danish serial killer series Chestnut Man number one instead.
2. Squid Game was Originally Named Something Else
Initially, Netflix announced plans for the series in September 2019 and wanted to title it “Round Six.” Hwang also had problems with funding and casting until Netflix picked it up 12 years later. This is the first time Hwang has worked with an international entertainment company.
3. Hwang Wrote the Script 12 Years Ago
Hwang started writing the script back in 2008 and finished its first draft in 2009; he took six months to write the first two episodes on his own. Due to the nature of the story, he thought that the story felt unfamiliar and violent and made him worry if it would be accepted by a wide audience and be a commercial success.
“But after about 12 years, the world has changed into a place where such peculiar, violent survival stories are actually welcomed,” he told The Korea Times.
4. Squid Game Was Meant to Be a Movie
Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told Variety in an interview that the series was originally planned to be a movie. He has written and directed major hit films like “Silenced” and “The Fortress.” He also wrote and directed the musical comedy, “Miss Granny,” which is highly popular in Korea.
5. Squid Game is Making Similar International Series Popular on Netflix
With the show’s immense popularity, audiences are searching for similar shows on Netflix that are from different regions, such as the Japanese series “Alice in Borderland” and Korean series “Sweet Home” both have been increasing in popularity on Netflix.
6. No Hints for A Second Season
Hwang’s vision right now isn’t to cash on the rising sensation that Squid Game has become; instead, he plans on creating movies before considering making a second season of the show. Hwang told Variety, “I don’t have well-developed plans for ‘Squid Game 2.” He also said, “It is quite tiring just thinking about it. But if I were to do it, I would certainly not do it alone. I’d consider using a writers’ room and would want multiple experienced directors.”
7. Doodles on The Walls of the Player’s Room Foretell the Games
The walls in the dorm are initially blocked by 456 beds, but as people die, the beds are removed, and viewers can see more of the walls. Notice how there are drawings that serve as clues for the participants to find out which games will be played.
8. The Doll in the First Game is Real
The huge doll that we get to see in the first episode of the show is actually real! And if you’re too much into the show, you can head towards Jincheon County, which is around three hours away from the north of Seoul.
The doll was placed at the entrance of a horse carriage museum and borrowed for the filming of the show.
9. The Phone Number Shown in the Series is Real
Have you ever tried dialling on a number that you’ve seen in a movie or show? I have, and it’s never a legit number. But with Squid Game, the case is different. As seen in the series, participants get into the game by calling on a mysterious 8-digit number; surprisingly, it is a real number and receives around 4000 calls on average per day.
The number is owned by a man living in Gyeonggi Province in South Korea for the last 10 years; it is linked to his business so it can’t be changed. The owner of the number has received an offer of 100 million won by a South Korean presidential candidate. According to the newspaper Hankook Ilbo, Netflix said the drama-production company, Siren Pictures, is negotiating with the phone number owner to resolve the issue.
10. The Dalgona Candy Challenge has Become a TikTok Trend!
The Dalgona Candy challenge consists of eating around the image printed on the candy without breaking it. It’s a honeycomb toffee with just two ingredients, sugar and baking soda. The challenge has become a trend on TikTok, with TikTokers creating their own versions.
“The production crew and I would joke about our series starting a dalgona craze, like how Netflix’s ‘Kingdom’ did with the gat ― a traditional Korean hat ― but I’m astounded that it actually happened,” the director told The Korea Times.
Wrapping Up
These were the 10 facts about Squid Game that you probably didn’t know yet! If you know some more, comment below!
