Squid Game’s Creator Reveals Shocking Health Toll from Season 3 Production!

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Summary

  • Hwang Dong-hyuk lost two teeth while making Squid Game Season 2.
  • The Squid Game director previously stated that he lost nine teeth while filming Season 1.
  • Squid Game production is physically demanding, especially for Hwang, who wears multiple hats.

The third season of the popular series known as “Squid Game” is set to premiere within just under three weeks. In a recent conversation, its creative force behind the script and direction discussed the toll that wrapping up the final season took on his health.

Squid Game, which hails from South Korea, is a gripping psychological survival thriller series streaming on Netflix. The main character, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), finds himself in a life-or-death game to claim a colossal cash prize of ₩45.6 billion ($39.86 million) to settle his debts. Caught up in the tournament are 455 other people struggling financially. When it debuted, Squid Game quickly soared to the top of Netflix’s international charts and remained there for weeks. The second season dropped in December, and though it was successful, many viewers were left frustrated due to its cliffhanger ending and fewer episodes. Fortunately, the third and final installment is set to release later this month, much to fans’ anticipation. However, it has been reported that the demanding production process has taken a toll on the creator’s health.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Squid Game’s creator Hwang Dong-hyuk shared insights about the upcoming Season 3. Surprisingly, he mentioned that while working on this season, he lost another two teeth, making it a total of ten teeth lost in the production so far. He had extracted around eight during the first season and is yet to replace these missing teeth. Hwang also stated that although the final season was less challenging due to the universe’s foundation being laid in the earlier seasons, the simultaneous filming of Seasons 2 and 3 added a unique challenge, requiring nearly a year of intense work.

Squid Game’s Hwang Dong-Hyuk Has Had To Deal With Massive Stress During The Show’s Production

In a BBC interview in November 2024, Hwang confessed that he had lost approximately nine teeth during the filming of the first season of Squid Game due to its reported stressfulness. This led him initially to hesitate about creating a sequel. However, his decision was swayed by two factors. Firstly, financial considerations as he felt undercompensated for the show’s success in Season 1. Secondly, he acknowledged that the story was unfinished, and producing more seasons would allow him to conclude it. Consequently, Hwang decided to return for another season to tie up Gi-hun’s narrative. He clarified that this would be the concluding season, but they would leave room for a new story set within the same universe, if the opportunity arises.

Making Squid Game is incredibly demanding, given its intense theme and intricate details. It portrays themes of poverty, despair, and violence, which can be emotionally taxing – especially for Hwang, who not only oversees the entire production but also writes, manages, and directs it. Consequently, it’s no wonder that he experiences a significant amount of stress while bringing this series to life.

In past attempts to sell it, Hwang revealed that he finished writing the script for “Squid Game” as far back as 2009. However, various production companies found the concept too implausible and dark, leading to rejections. Determined not to give up, Hwang persevered, and after ten years, the series eventually found a home on Netflix. Given his unwavering commitment to the project, this persistence is hardly surprising. The immense popularity of the first season has put high expectations on Hwang for Season 3, adding to his stress. With “Squid Game” Season 3 on the horizon, fans can only hope that Hwang will have more opportunities to unwind and relax. They eagerly anticipate more “Squid Game” stories, possibly spinoffs, so here’s hoping that the filmmaker finds ways to cope with the pressure.

Squid Game Season 3 will premiere on Netflix on June 27, 2025.

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2025-06-07 17:07