Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently made waves with his pronouncement about Squid Game season two. He stated it will “blow your mind.” This came after Sarandos’ visit to the show’s set in South Korea.
In a column on Netflix’s website, he wrote, “I couldn’t visit Korea without experiencing the production of one of our most anticipated shows of 2024—the second season of Squid Game. 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.”
He praised the show’s director again at a press conference in Seoul. “We’re really excited about Mr. Hwang’s ability to push storytelling to new limits, more dynamic sets and more mind-blowing storylines that are going to thrill the entire world,” Sarandos said.
Significant meetings
Sarandos’s trip was packed with significant meetings, including visits to the Seoul offices of Eyeline Studios and Scanline VFX. He also had productive discussions with Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyuk, lead actor Lee Jung-jae, and President Yoon Suk Yeol.
“It was my honor to meet President Yoon, together with Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae, to reaffirm our commitment to the industry and to the next generation of Korean creatives,” Sarandos remarked. “We are investing significantly in Korea, and believe that working with best-in-class local industry partners is only the beginning.”
The commitment to nurturing new talent is evident in Netflix’s initiatives, such as the Netflix VFX Academy internship program in South Korea. This program funds VFX artists and points them to work opportunities with Netflix’s partner companies. Sarandos proudly noted, “Seventy percent of the graduates from the program’s first session have since been hired by Netflix partners.”
Korean content on Netflix
Looking forward, Sarandos shared ambitious plans for Korean content on Netflix. “One in five Netflix titles in Korea will come from a first-time writer or director,” he wrote in his column. “Last year, that included the creators behind Black Knight, Doona!, Siren: Survive the Island, and Unlocked. This year, we’re providing a global stage for the first-time filmmakers behind Bandland Hunters, My Name is Loh Kiwan, The Bequeathed, and The Frog.
He also took time to address speculation regarding an American remake of Squid Game, clarifying that no such remake is in the works.
As Netflix prepares to unveil season two of Squid Game, fans worldwide are eager to see if Sarandos is right. Because he called the storyline “mindblowing,” anticipation for the show’s return is higher than ever. – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: Sarandos had fun interacting with young VFX artists at the new Eyeline Studios VFX Korea office. Source: Netflix.