‘Squid Game’ Arrives in L.A. With Real-Life Challenges and (Literal) Race for Premiere Tickets
Netflix is not holding back when it comes to the return of Squid Game, the streamer’s biggest show of all time, as it held an immersive premiere and fan event in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Los Angeles City College’s athletic field was converted into a re-creation of the games, featuring the iconic “Red Light, Green Light” (with accompanying giant doll), set-inspired photo ops and a seemingly endless number of pink guards wandering the premises. The night’s biggest component, though, was a nearly 5K run, as hundreds of fans — outfitted in the show’s green tracksuits — attempted to win tickets to the night’s premiere screening by correctly completing challenges along the route.
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“I can’t believe I’m watching this moment,” creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told the crowd as he looked out on the sea of costumed guests. “Thank you for coming to the event and celebrating Squid Game season two together. You guys are my best Christmas gift.” Star Lee Jung-jae added, “We are excited for you all to see season two, and hope many of you will get to see it tonight. We’re excited for you to meet new players, some of whom are here with us tonight. We can’t wait to hear what you think. Best of luck, from one player to another.”
The event also featured a mini night market of Koreatown favorites and a nail-painting station, offering nail art inspired by the series. Before the games, Hwang and Lee walked the carpet alongside co-stars Lee Byung-hun, Yim Si-wan, Lee Seo-hwan, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Jo Yu-ri and executive producer Kim Ji-yeon.
The Korean show — which follows hundreds of cash-strapped contestants as they accept an invitation to compete in high-stakes children’s games for a life-changing prize, with plenty of political commentary along the way — is coming shortly after South Korea was thrown into chaos by President Yoon Suk Yeol.
“Quite coincidentally, the U.S. recently went through your biggest election and then in Korea as well we are facing a national crisis with impeachment proceedings as well as the martial law declaration,” Hwang told The Hollywood Reporter of releasing his new season at this moment. “When you watch the second season, the act of voting is dealt with in a very important matter, so I invite all of you to watch the season and compare the reality of the act of voting to that of our society and that within the show. I think when you hold a mirror to society in that way, it will be a very meaningful and entertaining watch.”
And as for his future with Squid Game, which will end next year with season three, the creator teased, “I’m going to move on. I cannot be stuck in this Squid Game world forever. Maybe I’ll come back for a spinoff but not for the next one, I’m going to move onto the next one.” However, don’t go thinking he’s shifting to a happier project, as Hwang said laughing, “My next project will be more cruel, more violent, darker.”
Squid Game season two starts streaming on Netflix on Dec. 26.
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