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Squid Game season 2 earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Series – Drama on December 9, 2024, ahead of its official premiere. This rare achievement makes it one of the few shows to receive such recognition before its release.
The second season of Squid Game is scheduled to premiere on December 26, 2024. However, it was nominated based on early screeners submitted by Netflix to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). HFPA oversees the Golden Globes. The HFPA’s guidelines allow shows to be considered for a nomination if they air within the calendar year and provide screeners before the nomination deadline. This year, the deadline was November 4, 2024.
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Squid Game Season 2 is up against series like Shōgun, The Day of the Jackal, and The Diplomat in the competition.
This nomination follows the success of Squid Game season 1, which made history in 2022 and received three Golden Globe nominations. O Yeong-su won Best Supporting Actor, becoming the first Korean actor to do so.
Squid Game season 2: exploring themes of wealth, desperation, and betrayal
The upcoming season continues the narrative of Squid Game, expanding on its social commentary with themes such as voting, cryptocurrency, and the growing wealth disparity exacerbated by global events.
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk shared insights at a press conference, highlighting the new season's focus on the younger generation’s struggles with financial ruin, fueled by an obsession with wealth and cryptocurrencies.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on November 12, Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyuk shared insights into the new season’s characters.
“We didn’t have that many young people in the game in season one,” Hwang said. “because when I was first working on the script, there weren’t reasons for the younger generation to be so hugely indebted,”
He went on to explain how the pandemic played a role in shaping the new season's storyline.
"during the pandemic, there was this huge cryptocurrency craze that led to so many young people getting neck deep in debt and driven into poverty."
Squid Game season 1 premiered in September 2021. It introduced 456 players from South Korea, who were taken to a secluded island. They competed in childhood games that soon turned deadly. The winner received a massive cash prize, with only one contestant surviving.
The second season will bring back familiar faces. Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, and Wi Ha-joon will reprise their roles. New cast members include Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, and Jo Yu-ri.
Season 2 sees Lee Jung-jae return as Gi-hun, who re-enters the game three years later. Gi-hun had previously abandoned his plans to move to the U.S. This time, the stakes are higher with 45.6 billion KRW on the line. Gi-hun faces new players and even more dangerous challenges.
His character has undergone significant change, evolving from a naive contestant to a determined player focused on uncovering the game’s secrets. He also confronts the Front Man. Meanwhile, Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) continues his quest to find his brother, In-ho, setting the stage for intense loyalty conflicts.
Director Hwang emphasized that Season 2 expands on the relationships and motivations of the contestants. The characters' personal and financial betrayals deepen the emotional impact. Themes of trust, survival, and desperation play out as players navigate complex alliances and deadly conflicts.
Season 2 introduces a diverse cast of new participants, each with unique stories. Im Si-wan plays a cryptocurrency YouTuber who caused massive losses for his followers. Now a fugitive, he joins the game in search of redemption. Park Sung-hoon portrays a transgender woman determined to save money for gender-confirmation surgery. Her character embodies resilience and leadership.
Lee Jin-wook plays a father fighting to secure treatment for his daughter’s leukemia. Yang Dong-geun and Kang Ae-shim explore the emotional depth of a mother and son trying to survive while holding onto their bond.
Kang Ha-neul portrays a charming and strategic player who uses his wit to form alliances. Park Gyu-young plays a woman driven by despair as she searches for her missing child. Her desperation adds urgency and emotional intensity to the game.
Additionally, former BigBang member T.O.P makes a notable appearance as Thanos. He plays a former hip-hop star who once competed in a survival show. After losing all his savings due to bad investment advice from a YouTuber, Thanos joins the game. His character seeks redemption through the deadly competition.
The Golden Globe ceremony will be held on January 5, 2025, where Squid Game season 2 will compete for the award. The season is set to debut on Netflix on December 26, 2024.
