Netflix is finally unveiling its reality show “Squid Game.” The streaming service has shared a teaser trailer for “Squid Game: The Challenge,” set to premiere this November. The clip doesn’t reveal details about the contestants, but it’s clear that Netflix aims to recreate the original series’ atmosphere as closely as possible, right down to the giant doll from “Red Light, Green Light.” Of course, without the bloodshed.
In the 10-episode series, 456 participants will compete in games “inspired” by “Squid Game,” which will be recreated based on the show. The winner will receive a substantial prize of $4.56 million, providing a serious incentive to make it to the end. Netflix filmed the series earlier this year.
There’s no mystery in creating this challenge: it’s an attempt to capitalize on the success of the “Squid Game” series. The Korean drama remains Netflix’s most popular series of all time, garnering over 1.6 billion viewing hours as of June (even the fourth season of “Stranger Things” has just over 1.3 billion viewing hours). Given that Netflix loves to produce spin-offs for popular shows, it was likely only a matter of time before the company sought to reignite interest in its most popular series.
As of now, there is less public pressure regarding the release of “Squid Game: The Challenge” than there was when it was announced in 2022, when Netflix faced numerous subscriber losses. As of mid-2023, the company is in a better position, having gained nearly 1.8 million subscribers in the first quarter. However, the company still faces significant competition from rivals such as Amazon, Disney, and Paramount, and this series could be key to audience growth alongside anticipated blockbusters like the sci-fi epic “The Three-Body Problem” and upcoming seasons of “Bridgerton” and “The Witcher.”