Squid Game to return for third and final season in 2025

The final season of Squid Game will debut in 2025, it has been announced.

The Korean drama became a breakout success after its release on Netflix in 2021, which saw Lee Jung-jae’s character Seong Gi-hun receive a mysterious invitation to join a game offering 45.6 billion South Korean won (around £27m).

Squid Game writer, director and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk confirmed the long-awaited second season is set for release on December 26, while the third and final season will arrive in 2025.

“Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who vowed revenge at the end of season one, returns and joins the game again,” Dong-hyuk wrote in a letter announcing the show’s endgame.

“Will he succeed in getting his revenge? Front Man doesn’t seem to be an easy opponent this time either.

“The fierce clash between their two worlds will continue into the series finale in season three, which will be brought to you next year.”

Hwang Dong-hyuk said he hoped to bring “yet another thrill ride” following the success of the first series of the fictional dystopian thriller.

Netflix released a teaser video on X to announce the return of the second series, with contestants on a running track falling down, while a guard says: “It’s been three years. Do you want to play again?”

The show was turned into a real-life game show following its success.

Squid Game: The Challenge recreated much of the original, down to the outfits and sets, although the lethal re-imaginings of childhood games had lower stakes with contestants facing elimination instead of death.

Winner Mai Whelan scooped the 4.56 million US dollar (£3.61m) prize when series one ended in December.