Why won't there be a Squid Game season 4?

Series creator, director and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk has said that season 3 will be the show's final outing, but whether that will be the end of Squid Game as a whole remains to be seen.

The talked-about celebrity cameo in the final episode certainly pointed at some kind of Squid Game spin-off being set up, but Dong-hyuk has since said in an interview with Variety that it's "not related to that".

While many of us may still be reeling from the shock deaths and eerie note that Squid Game ended on, series star Lee Jung-jae has since revealed his thoughts on what he hopes viewers will be left with.

He told The Hollywood Reporter: "What I hope people take away is that we all get hurt and betrayed by others, which can lead to hatred, but we still have to carry on and live together in society.

"We have to try to understand each other, to keep our dignity and work towards harmony. If we can do that — work together with others, no matter what we’ve been through — we may see a future with less division and conflict. That’s where hope lies."

Seeing as Squid Game stands to be one of Netflix's most successful series of all time, it's no surprise that it came back for seasons 2 and 3, which were filmed back to back. But could it be returning for more? Read on for the reasoning behind why Squid Game won't be returning for a fourth season, as well as rumours about potential spin-offs.

Why won't there be a Squid Game season 4?

There won't be a Squid Game season 4 as it was always the plan for the Netflix show to end with season 3.

Last July, series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk confirmed that Squid Game would end with its third and final season in a letter to fans.

In it, he wrote: "I am beyond excited to be writing this letter to announce the date for season 2 and share the news of season 3, the final season."

He continued: "I am thrilled to see the seed that was planted in creating a new Squid Game grow and bear fruit through the end of this story."

Essentially, rounding out the series with an additional two seasons after the hit first was Dong-hyuk's way of enabling closure for fans, at least in relation to Gi-hun's story. It's natural that a director would have a set amount of seasons in mind for their main story, with it appearing like that's exactly the case for Gi-hun and Squid Game.

The director told Netflix's Tudum: “As I began to write and develop the storylines for seasons 2 and 3, I realised I needed a resolution that would bring both the game and Gi-hun’s journey to a close.

“I need to wrap up Gi-hun’s journey and convey a message to the audience right now. The message I wanted to communicate was that if we solely pursue our immediate self-interest, and refuse to self-restrain, sacrifice, or bear any costs, and if we don’t put our heads together, we have no future.”

As well as not wanting to stretch out the series for longer than necessary, the amount of stress that Dong-hyuk has endured throughout the creation of the series has also been well known and so, could also be a major factor in wanting to end the series.

Dong-hyuk told The Hollywood Reporter: "So to be free from all of that fear and burden, I do feel relieved. But as we are releasing the show and saying goodbye, for the past six years, there hasn’t been a single day that went by without me thinking about Squid Game.

"This is something that has completely consumed me for the past six years. So to know that I have to say goodbye, I admit, I do have the sense of almost a loss, or I feel quite empty, to be honest. But I hope that if season three is met with as much love as people loved season one, then I think I’m definitely going to feel less empty about saying goodbye."

Will there be a Squid Game spin-off?

In terms of continuing the franchise, Dong-hyuk has been forthright in the fact that he's not interested in doing so – but there may be some potential for a spin-off series.

He told The Hollywood Reporter: "I think the story ended in a manner where it doesn’t need a further story to be told. So I am not too interested in telling a story that continues on from the conclusion.

"If I were to do a spin-off someday, I think I would rather choose to go back and see what happened during that time gap [between seasons one and two]. But this is something that we are just tossing around. So, as for when or how a spin-off might come about, it’s still up in the air."

There have been some rumours about a Squid Game spin-off set in the US, and the season 3 finale cameo from Cate Blanchett only seems to prop up the theory that there's plenty more story left in the tank.

While rumours continue to swirl, it has been suggested that Gone Girl director David Fincher was set to helm the American spin-off, with Blanchett's season 3 appearance playing Ddakji with a man in Los Angeles appearing to support the fact – but Dong-hyuk has doused water on the flames of those rumours.

Speaking about including Blanchett in the finale, the Squid Game director told Variety: "That scene was in my mind towards the end of my writing process for the script ... I knew I wanted to have a woman recruiter, because I thought it would be something different and a little more impactful."

In response to being asked if it sets up Fincher's potential Squid Game: USA series, Dong-hyuk said: "Actually no, not at all. It’s not related to that. All I wanted to have was just an impactful ending, and that’s all that was to it.

"Honestly, I haven’t heard officially from Netflix about David Fincher creating a Squid Game. I have heard the rumours of course though. But again, it was just the ending that I wanted for season 3."

Netflix has not yet commented on the matter but we do know that Blanchett's surprise appearance as one of the Recruiters could point at a continuation of Squid Game further afield. While it may have shut down operations in Korea, the series's final moments do set up a potential spin-off for the future. We'll just have to wait and see if that comes to fruition.

When asked about the level of participation that he would like to have with Netflix if they decide to do a new Squid Game-related project, Dong-hyuk said: "It would depend on what kind of show. If they wanted to do a following season, then I think it’s obvious I would have to participate and lead.

"But if it’s the US version that they’re making, I think sharing of ideas would be enough. I have no intention of being completely hands-on in a project like that.

"Having said that, if Netflix asks and if I feel like my contribution is needed, then as long as it’s not something that would interfere with whatever I’m working on at that time, I would be happy to provide what they need from me."

Will there be a Front Man spin-off from Squid Game?

During an appearance on Jimmy Fallon, Lee Byung-hun teased a potential Front Man spin-off, which is an exciting prospect for audiences.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he added: "Director Hwang and I have been joking about a Front Man spin-off since the beginning.

"We both thought that The Front Man or the recruiter could be interesting for more story, because we haven’t really explored these characters in their entirety yet.

"Their backstory is still vague, and their character is still a little murky. To look at The Front Man with a full character study would be a very fun thing to do.

"So, as for your question – of course I’d be willing to star in it. The character has already been built and designed, and I’m very compelled by him. Just as the fans are curious to know more about him, I am too. That’s a story I’d be very willing to tell."

Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com about the final moment of the series where In-ho spots Blanchett playing Ddakji, Byung-hun said: "When I asked director Hwang before filming that scene to double check, he did confirm that In-ho was also unaware that the game was being placed elsewhere.

"So if you look closely enough, In-ho seems both surprised and bitter."

He added: "If there is a Front Man spin-off, how can I say no to it? It’s a no-brainer. The story of the spin-off would be key, though. It should be even more compelling than that of Squid Game. And I hope it deals with the backstory of In-ho, as fans are still thirsty for more."

As of now, though, there hasn't been any news on any further Squid Game-related spin-offs, but seeing as the show has been a hit for the streamer, we'd definitely not expect this to be the last we see of Squid Game.

Squid Game season 3 is now streaming on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

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