Squid Game Season 2: Release Date, Plot, Cast, and Everything to Know

The arena for Squid Game Season 2 is slowly filling up. We may have said goodbye to some (read: most) of our favorite players in Season 1 of the Korean thriller, but as we approach production for the second season it's becoming clear that Squid Game Season 2 will have plenty of new characters to look forward to. I mean, have you seen the stacked cast list?

When the series premiered in September 2021, it transcended language barriers and became Netflix's most-watched series ever. Squid Game had everything: a gripping premise, captivating performances, and a plot that only became more sinister as the show progressed. "I really wanted to create a story that will be immersive. And I wanted the viewers who watch Squid Game to start questioning themselves," creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told The Hollywood Reporter. "How am I living my life? Who am I among these characters, and what kind of world am I living in? I wanted these questions to be asked."

Squid Game resonated with critics as well. In September 2022, the Korean series solidified its place in the TV history books when it won six Emmy Awards, including Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Lee Jung-jae and Directing for a Drama Series for Hwang, in the process becoming the first show not in English to win these categories. We're hungry for more Squid Game like all we had to eat was a hard-boiled egg and a bottle of soda, so naturally we can't help but wonder when Season 2 will come out. 

Here's everything we know about Squid Game Season 2.

Squid Game Season 2 latest news

On June 28, Netflix revealed the final cast for Squid Game Season 2. Eight additional stars — detailed below in the Cast section — will be joining the ensemble. Netflix also shared that the first table read took place over the week of June 26, and that production will begin later in 2023. 

Squid Game Season 2 cast

Most of our favorite characters died in Season 1. It's hard to imagine Squid Game without the likes of Park Hae-soo's Sang-woo and Jung Hoyeon's Kang Sae-byeok, but alas, we have no choice. On June 17 at Tudum: A Global Fan Event, Netflix shared a cast announcement video for Squid Game Season 2. Sure, we all knew that Lee Jung-jae's main character Seong Gi-hun, aka Player 456, would be back for a second round of death games. But this video revealed the new players also competing for their lives. 

Lee Byung-hun will return as the Front Man, while Wi Ha-jun will return as Hwang Jun-ho. The latter is a pleasant surprise since the last time we saw Jun-ho, he was shot by his brother, the Front Man, and fell off a cliff. And Squid Game fans will be thrilled to learn that Gong Yoo, who appeared only for brief moments in Season 1, is also coming back. 

The video also introduces new players: Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon, and Yang Dong-geun all press the green button that indicates game on. We don't know anything about their characters just yet.

On June 28, Netflix unveiled the rest of Squid Game Season 2's cast. They include Park Gyu-young, Jo Yu-ri, and Kang Ae-shim. Also joining the cast are Lee David, Lee Jin-uk, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, and, last but not least, Won Ji-an. Here's a look at the newly announced stars. 

Along with the final cast announcement, Netflix offered a look at the first table read. 

When is Squid Game Season 2 coming out? 

There's no release date set for Season 2. The first table read only just occurred in June 2023 and production won't begin until later this year, so it's likely that we'll have to wait until 2024 or later to see the second season.

What else to know about Squid Game Season 2

It took a long time for Squid Game to get officially renewed; the Season 2 pick-up was announced in June 2022, nine months after the series premiered. Along with the show's renewal for a second season, Netflix tweeted a letter from creator Dong-hyuk in which he confirms "a whole new round" of games is in store.

Where to watch Squid Game

Season 1 of Squid Game is available to stream.