This Netflix Title Could Dethrone ‘Bridgerton’ and Become Netflix’s Biggest Show Ever
Squid Game has taken the world by storm. When the Korean drama premiered on Netflix, it claimed the No. 1 spot on the Top 10 list. Due to its worldwide success, the series is close to becoming the biggest show ever on the streaming service. To accomplish this monumental feat, Squid Game must surpass this breakout period drama.
What is ‘Squid Game’ about?
Squid Game follows a group of adults chosen to compete in a survival competition. Based on their financial debt, they must play children’s games to win a grand prize of 45.6 billion won ($38.5 million). However, there’s one deadly twist to the competition – if they lose the game, they will be killed in real life.
The official logline reads: “Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children’s games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits – with deadly high stakes.” The horror series stars Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, HoYeon Jung, Heo Sung-tae, Kim Joo-ryoung, Anupam Tripathi, and Lee Yoo-mi.
The South Korean drama could dethrone ‘Bridgerton’
While Squid Game continues to gain popularity on Netflix, it’s projected to become one of the biggest shows ever on the streaming service. Netflix co-CEO and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos recently told Variety that the Korean survival drama has a very high chance of hitting that milestone. But, it must pass the breakout drama, Bridgerton.
According to Deadline, the period drama broke viewership records, becoming the streamer’s biggest series ever. Netflix reported that 82 million households worldwide streamed Bridgerton Season 1 in the first 28 days of its release. Based on the novel series by Julia Quinn, the first season follows Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and her quest for love. Shortly after its debut, the streaming giant renewed the series for a second season.
Although Bridgerton currently holds the No. 1 spot, the South Korean drama series is not that far behind. According to Variety, Squid Game is now the No. 1 show worldwide on Netflix. Two days after its release, the series entered the Top 10 List.
“We did not see that coming, in terms of its global popularity,” Sarandos told the outlet, referring to the K-Drama.
Will ‘Squid Game’ return for a second season?
The possibility of a second season might be pretty slim. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk recently told Variety that the concept took him 10 years to create. Plus, he referred to the writing process as “quite tiring.”
“I don’t have well-developed plans for Squid Game 2,” Hwang told the outlet. “It is quite tiring just thinking about it. But if I were to do it, I would certainly not do it alone. I’d consider using a writers’ room and would want multiple experienced directors.”
Hwang added, “Writing (Squid Game) was harder than normal for me as it was a series, not a film. It took me six months to write and rewrite the first two episodes. Then I consulted verbally with friends and picked up clues for improvements through my own pitching and from their responses.”
Squid Game Season 1 is streaming now on Netflix.
