We're still not quite over the ending of Squid Game season three, but the one thing that's keeping us going is that we might get to see more of those undeniably gruesome-yet-addictive games, with an American version of the show said to be "in the works".
Last year, it was reported that Mindhunter creator David Fincher was working on an American Squid Game.
An insider told Deadline that a new English-language Squid Game series was in the works at Netflix, with Fincher coming on to develop it.
And following Cate Blanchett's Squid Game season three cameo, fans are more convinced than ever that it's happening.
So will the be a Squid Game? What will it be about? And when is it likely to air?
Here's everything we know so far.
Will there be an American Squid Game?
In October 2024, Deadline reported that David Fincher was developing an English-language version of Squid Game.
Fincher has directed and produced many films including Gone Girl, The Woman with the Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. His TV credits include: Mindhunter and House of Cards.
Squid Game involves dark themes and tones that are similar to the themes of Fincher’s past works, particularly the 1997 thriller The Game, starring Michael Douglas and Sean Penn. So, the producer and director would be ideal for the series.
Dennis Kelly, best known for Utopia, is reportedly attached to to write, according to Playlist.
An American Squid Game would mark the first English-language scripted Squid Game series, joining Hwang Dong-hyuk’s original Korean-language thriller.
The unscripted series Squid Game: The Challenge launched in Novemebr 2023 and has been renewed for a second season.
Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk previously confirmed to TheWrap: "Season three is not going to be the end of the Squid Game universe".
He added to EW: "I’m not trying to say that I’m going to close the door to spinoffs or sequels altogether because they say never say never."
Meanwhile Lee Jung-jae, who portrays Seong Gi-hun, expressed his excitement over the alleged American adaption, telling Complex: "I'm looking forward to it so much, I can't wait to see it and I have high expectations."
What will the American Squid be about?
Multiple sources say that the American series will be a continuation rather than a brand new story and that it will be set in the same world as the Korean series.
So, we can expect to see 456 Americans who are strapped for cash finding their way to the secret location to battle it out in a series of games in a bid to win a life-changing sum of money, but at the risk of their's and other competitors' lives.
Whether the games will be kept the same is yet to be confirmed, but we can expect to see lots of high-stakes drama, intense competition, and unique American twists that raise the tension even further.
When would the American Squid Game air?
It's probably too early to say, but most sources seem to agree that the series is currently titled Squid Game: America and is reportedly set to begin production in Los Angeles as early as December 2025, as per ProductionWeekly.
Fincher is currently tied up for the remainder of 2025, working on the follow-up movie to Once Upon A Time in Hollywood with Quentin Tarantino behind the script, so 2026 seems like a more realistic deadline.
We'll update you right here once we know more.
American Squid Game cast
Cate Blanchett's Squid Game cameo has led fans to believe that the American series is definitely going ahead.
In the final scenes of the third instalment of the Netflix thriller, the Front Man (Lee Byung-hu) finds himself in a car in Downtown Los Angeles. While stopped at a light, he hears the sound of two ddakji tiles hitting ground, followed by a sharp slap. He rolls down the window to see a suited Cate Blanchett playing ddakji with a man.
Asked why he decided to cast the Australian actress, Hwang Dong-hyuk said: "We thought having a woman as a Recruiter would be more dramatic and intriguing.
"And as for why Cate Blanchett, she’s just the best, with unmatched charisma. Who doesn’t love her? So we were very happy to have her appear. We needed someone who could dominate the screen with just one or two words, which is exactly what she did."
It's not yet known if Cate will be signing on for the US version of the show, but the legendary actress, who is known for her roles in The Lord of The Rings, The Hobbit, Black Bag and more, would be a much welcome addition.
Squid Game seasons 1-3 are available to stream on Netflix.
