"Considered a storyline where Gi-hun would survive": Squid Game creator initially planned a reunion ending in Season 3

One of the best South Korean thrillers, Squid Game, finally wrapped up after three seasons on Netflix. It was first released in 2021, with director Hwang Dong-hyuk having no idea it would go on to become a global sensation.

So, the creator decided to continue the story of survival in a world consumed by greed beyond Season 1. Even though completing the series brought him peace, the weight of global expectations made the process challenging. Even with its massive success, the ending of Squid Game Season 3 has left fans split, with some praising its bold choices and others feeling let down.

One of the most debated aspects is the final twist: every single character who enters the game dies, and the only one left alive is a newborn baby. Interestingly, this wasn't the original plan. Hwang said in an interview with The Korea Times:

"I initially vaguely considered a storyline where Gi-hun would survive with a few other contestants and eventually go to meet his daughter in the U.S."

He continued:

"But I reconsidered what story I really wanted to tell with this project and felt that Gi-hun's journey should end here."

Hwang Dong-hyuk also mentioned that while the show brought him incredible fame and success, but also brought exhaustion and pressure. He even lost some teeth while making Squid Game, but didn't give up.

Keep reading to explore more about the finale and Hwang Dong-hyuk's insights.

Squid Game creator thought of Gi-hun's survival, but changed his mind

Since Squid Game Season 3 came out on Netflix, fans couldn't stop discussing the shocking finale no one saw coming. While deaths were expected, many didn't think of the main character, Gi-hun's death.

As seen in the finale episode, the players participate in the Sky Squid Game, where they're placed in huge towers, resembling the three iconic shapes of the survival thriller. The players were tasked with killing others to enter the final round, and Gi-hun, despite carrying the baby, managed to reach the last tower.

However, since only one player was meant to survive, Gi-hun chose to sacrifice himself, saying that they're all human and that some people still choose humanity over greed. This was a heartwrenching part of Squid Game that Hwang Dong-hyuk created to reflect the harsh realities of the world today.

As mentioned earlier, this wasn’t the ending he originally had in mind. The creator first thought of Gi-hun's survival and reunion with his daughter in America. But he eventually realized that worsening inequality, continuing wars, and the sense that society is failing to solve its biggest problems were more in line with the message he wanted to leave behind.

He said:

"Because ultimately, this project is about the world we live in. Economic inequality has worsened since I made Season 1, the lives of ordinary people have become more difficult, and wars show no signs of ending."

Hwang sensed a much darker future coming, and that inspired him to create an ending that fits that emotional tone. He shared that many young people today feel hopeless about the future, and he sees the baby as "our future". By placing the child in the game, he wanted to show that protecting the next generation, our conscience, and the future requires real struggle and sacrifice.

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Also Read: Leonardo DiCaprio is the Squid Game showrunner’s choice to play the lead in the US rendition— Here's what he said

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