For months, David Fincher’s long-rumored American adaptation of ‘Squid Game‘ floated in the air like one of Netflix’s most confusing mysteries. Was it real or was it abandoned? At last, however, there is movement, and fans are both worried and ecstatic. The project, titled ‘Squid Game: America’, is a new production listing that is officially preparing to begin filming on February 26.
Netflix and Fincher have not yet verified the update. However, it is the first physical move in almost a year and a sign that the Oscar-nominated director might soon be driving one of the largest television brands on Earth. Although Cate Blanchett’s ‘Squid Game’ Season 3 cameo will allegedly not be transferred to the American adaptation, the show is one of the most interesting creative gambits Netflix has made. And with a franchise that has already shattered all the records, the stakes could not be higher.
‘Squid Game: America’ Finally Moves Forward With New Progress Update
When ‘Squid Game‘ first exploded in 2021, few could have predicted the cultural shockwave it would produce. The Korean thriller was not a mere bingeable success, but a social phenomenon around the world. It started discussions on economic inequality, death games, and moral reckoning. People didn’t just watch ‘Squid Game’. They experienced it. However, to recreate such a phenomenal show might even be different for a filmmaker as fearless as Fincher.
Related: 15 Most Shocking ‘Squid Game’ Moments, Ranked
Fincher, who has a chilling psychological vision showcased in ‘Se7en’, ‘Gone Girl’, and ‘Mindhunter’, is the type of director who feeds off of discomfort. He builds tension like it’s a second language. If anyone can reinterpret the emotional brutality and social commentary of ‘Squid Game‘ for an American setting, it’s him. Nevertheless, the American version will not be a retread. Reports indicate that the show will have a completely different cast, new games, and a new moral prism, not related to the Korean plot.
The original creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, has already granted his approval, saying that the remake will not change or substitute the story narrated in the original trilogy. This distance could be precisely the thing that rescues ‘Squid Game: America’. It creates room for Fincher to critique uniquely American social anxieties without stepping on the toes of the original masterpiece.
Fincher has always been interested in what human beings do when they are pushed to the limit. In ‘The Game’, he explored psychological torture as entertainment; in ‘Fight Club’, he dissected consumerism. In ‘Mindhunter’, he examined the darkest recesses of the human mind. ‘Squid Game’ is practically built for him. The American version might turn the tale into a survival story that’s even more heart-wrenching.
The Original ‘Squid Game’ Has No Plans Of Returning
As the news about Fincher’s version spreads, the Korean ‘Squid Game’ has already crossed its narrative finish line. The third season, which was released earlier this year, is the official conclusion of Gi-hun’s Journey. Seasons 2 and 3 were shot as one follow-up story, which was divided into two parts, and completed Gi-hun’s arc. Season 3 completes the circle of the main conflict of the story: Gi-hun vs. the Front Man.
In case you missed it: How ‘Squid Game’ Foreshadowed Its Tragic Ending From The Very Beginning
The ending does not simply terminate the game, but the emotional journey that gripped the world. Netflix has long since confirmed that there will be no Season 4. However, as the original series comes to an end, the franchise itself is at a crossroads. That is where ‘Squid Game: America’ comes in. It’s a strategic move.
‘Squid Game’ is the most-watched Netflix series of all time, and Season 1 attracted an astounding 2.2 billion hours of watch time. Netflix cannot afford to have its largest international franchise just end. So, Fincher’s adaptation might be the next step. Assuming that the filming starts at the beginning of 2026, insiders estimate that it will be released in 2028.
