When Squid Game was released in September 2021, the TV series’ popularity exploded and quickly became one of the most watched shows of the moment. With its fully fleshed out characters, cartoonish imagery, gory action, dystopian setting and poignant social criticism, Squid Game has already left an indelible mark on our globalized pop culture.
So much so that not only has the TV series been renewed for a second season, but Netflix is working to bring Squid Game to the real world to continue capitalizing on its popularity.
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Netflix introduces Squid Game: The Challenge
Following the rise in popularity of Squid Game, Netflix has This is what Netflix announced that the South Korean TV series is in the works to be adapted and brought to our real world.
This brand new Squid game comes in the format of a reality TV competition series, Squid Game: The Challenge. And it will be the biggest, with a cast of 456 contestants and a cash prize of a whopping $4.56 million.
Contestants must play through multiple games inspired by the original series, as well as several new additions, while competing for the ultimate prize. But how close will this adaptation stay to the original show?
Well, with a $4.56 million prize pool, the stakes are definitely high, but in Squid Game: The Challenge, the worst-case scenario goes home empty-handed. Although Netflix’s statement states that “players’ strategies, alliances, and character will be put to the test,” we can expect some drama from the contenders.
In early 2022, Netflix began shedding subscribers, so bringing its most popular show to the real world could be a way to help the company grow its numbers.
How to apply for Squid Game: The Challenge
For those interested in participating and the $4.56 million reward, apply at squidgamecasting.com. For this round of games, the Front Man, as the overseer of the games is known within the franchise, is looking for 456 English speakers from around the world.
Some of the other rules the platform requires is that you must be at least 21 years old, have a valid passport and be available for at least four weeks in early 2023. If you meet all the requirements, you can choose USA , UK or Global Casting and fill out your application. After that, all you have to do is hope that you get a chance to compete and it will be a matter of waiting.
The irony of adapting a Squid game to a reality show
In Netflix’s statement, Brandon Rieg, the company’s vice president for Unscripted and Documentary Series, expressed his gratitude for supporting the director of Squid Game as Netflix brought his fictional world to reality. What he didn’t realize was that Squid Game is a fictionalized version of the real world.
Squid Game isn’t just another gory TV series – or maybe it is – but we can find in it a very harsh critique of how competitive shows use inequality and people’s need for money to lure them into giving themselves up for the sake of the ridicule entertainment and benefit.
Then again, maybe Netflix knows what it’s doing. In the same statement, Brandon Rieg calls the competition a “social experiment”. It seems like the Facebook metaverse isn’t the only taste of dystopia we’ll have in the near future.
Squid Game is here to stay
After Squid Game’s massive viewership, it’s no surprise they’re turning the series into a franchise. After all, there is a lot of profit to be made. It seems surprising that they actually turn the show into an actual competition, ironic as that may be.
Ironic or not, Squid Game is here to stay, and the price tag is more than worth it. The casting for Squid Game: The Challenge is already underway and you could be a part of it.
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