The premiere of the new series is expected no earlier than 2027.
The American spin-off of the South Korean series Squid Game has officially entered production. The project will be led by Fight Club director David Fincher, whose films have received 40 Oscar nominations.
Filming for the new series is set to begin in late February 2026 in Los Angeles. This information appeared in the production database on the website of the U.S. Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA).
The emergence of a sequel to the super-successful series was a matter of time. Rumors about an American version of Squid Game first began circulating in early 2023. Many insiders spoke about the possibility of a reboot. Reports leaked to the press that filming would start in December 2025. It was stated that the premiere of the new series is expected no earlier than 2027.
According to a brief project description, the spin-off will represent an American version of the Korean hit. The action will unfold in the same fictional universe but will show "how the games are conducted in America."
The streaming service Netflix, which aired the original series, has not yet confirmed the launch of the spin-off, but the IFTA database already contains key information about the project participants under the working title Squid Game: America.
Awaiting Cate Blanchett
David Fincher's involvement in the project was known, but that he would be directing the American version of Squid Game was only revealed now. Fincher has immortalized his name in film history primarily due to the psychological thriller Fight Club. The connection between the plots of this cult film and the super-popular series can be easily traced. The director is also known for films such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Social Network, Se7en, and Gone Girl, as well as for his collaboration with Netflix on the series Mindhunter and House of Cards.
The intrigue surrounding Cate Blanchett's participation in the American Squid Game remains. She appeared at the end of the third season of the original series in Los Angeles as a recruiter. To date, some foreign publications report that she has joined the cast, while others claim that the actress will not be appearing in the reboot. It is hard to fully believe this, so viewers must patiently await further details.
Previously, the writer and director of the Korean series Hwang Dong-hyuk denied any connection between Blanchett's cameo and the potential spin-off, stating that he invited her solely for an impactful finale. At the same time, the creator of the project did not rule out that actor Leonardo DiCaprio might appear in the continuation.
Whether characters from the Korean hit will participate in the American version is also still unknown. Lee Byung-hun, who played the Host in the original, has already expressed his willingness to reprise the role.
Hwang Dong-hyuk himself has been invited to the project as a producer. The script will be written by Dennis Kelly, the author of the popular British musical Matilda based on the children's novel of the same name by Roald Dahl, which was adapted into a film in 2022.
Korean Hit
Squid Game has become a true cultural phenomenon. It set a new benchmark in the history of the battle royale genre. The first season premiered on Netflix in September 2021, the second in December 2024, and the third in July 2025.
The series tells the story of player Seong Gi-hun – a debt-ridden gambler being pursued by collectors. Along with him, another five hundred people, due to their need for money, risk their lives for a big prize. They accept an invitation to participate in a secret survival tournament. Participants are brought to an island and kept there until a winner is determined.
High-quality production, a unique, shocking plot, a powerful social subtext, multi-dimensional characters, and a vivid visual style ensured the project’s groundbreaking success. Squid Game quickly went viral thanks to social media and online platforms, spawning numerous memes, discussions, and fan theories.
The final season of Squid Game, which premiered on June 27, 2025, became the most successful launch of a non-English series in Netflix history. In the first three days, the series garnered over 60.1 million views, setting a new record for the streaming service.
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