Capitalizing on the success of Squid Game, Netflix announced Squid Game: The Challenge, a reality competition based on the show.
Like the show, Netflix will recruit 456 real players to play games inspired by the original series, plus some surprising new additions. Contestants will vie for the grand prize of $4.56 million.
“Squid Game took the world by storm with Director Hwang’s captivating story and iconic imagery. We’re grateful for his support as we turn the fictional world into reality in this massive competition and social experiment,” Brandon Riegg, Netflix vp of unscripted and documentary series, said in a statement. “Fans of the drama series are in for a fascinating and unpredictable journey as our 456 real-world contestants navigate the biggest competition series ever, full of tension and twists, with the biggest ever cash prize at the end.”
The 10-episode competition will enter production in the U.K.
The South Korean drama, created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, premiered on Netflix in September 2021 and became a global phenomenon, with over 1.65 billion hours viewed within the first 28 days of its release.
Netflix recently gave Squid Game a greenlight for Season 2, with the director slated to return as showrunner.