‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Hwang Dong-Hyuk, Lee Jung-Jae & Lee Byung-Hun: Interview

SPOILER ALERT: This interview incorporates particulars of Season 2 of Netflix’s Squid Recreation.

A brand new sequence of sinister video games are afoot. After three years of a extremely anticipated wait, the record-breaking Netflix sequence Squid Recreation has re-entered the zeitgeist with the current debut of Season 2.  

The newest season picks up a number of years after the occasions of the primary season, which ended with Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), also referred to as participant 456, successful the preliminary video games, incomes the ₩45.6 billion cash-out prize. Nevertheless, as an alternative of having fun with his hundreds of thousands, he has nothing however trauma to point out for it. Nonetheless grappling with survivors’ guilt, Gi-hun has spent three years steeped in paranoia and isolation whereas attempting to give you a plan to make use of his newfound wealth to not solely cease the video games but additionally to overthrow the system and its overseers. 

Upon hiring a staff of native forces to assist him discover a manner again into the video games, Gi-hun proves profitable and units his plan in movement on the threat of additional emotional injury from his earlier survival. In the meantime, unbeknownst to Gi-hun, the present head of the Squid Recreation challenges—following the dying of the sport creator Oh Il-nam on the finish of Season 1—is In-ho (Lee Byung-hun), also referred to as The Entrance Man, decides to enter the video games with a brand new alias title, Younger-il, as Participant 001, to show to Gi-hun that humanity is constructed on greed and never sacrifice for the larger good. The crux of Season 2 is anchored in the truth that whereas the viewers is aware of In-ho’s true identification as The Entrance Man, Gi-hun, who has solely ever encountered him in his conventional all-black uniform and masks, decides to befriend him in hopes of survival.

Right here, sequence creator Hwang Dong-hyuk and stars Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun speak to Deadline about taking part in satan’s advocate and the enjoyable artistic challenges of constructing Season 2. 

DEADLINE: The primary theme of this season, apart from greed, appears to be about selections that may be made with pure intentions that result in unhealthy penalties. One of many issues that Gi-hun says to the Entrance Man is, “The world doesn’t at all times go the best way you need it to go.” How a lot of that is he projecting on himself as he’s not skipping off into the sundown together with his hundreds of thousands as an alternative of attempting to topple this unjust system of riches? 

HWANG DONG-HYUK: Not essentially. I don’t assume he was projecting that on himself at that second as a result of Gi-hun has superb will, he has superb intentions, however it doesn’t at all times go as deliberate. As you may see, as an example, with the riot, that wasn’t how he anticipated it to finish. In Episode 2, he does say to the Entrance Man that the world doesn’t go as you need it to be. However I believe the phrases purely meant his goodwill to actually flip this world over and simply upend the system that he thinks is unjust and simply fallacious. It’s his manner of exhibiting his willpower to the Entrance Man. Season 2 is mainly about Gi-hun’s good intentions and conviction to upend the system and his conflict with Entrance Man, who needs to go the opposite manner. I hope individuals take Gi-hun’s phrases simply as it’s, as his willpower to be sure that he places an finish to the system. It would appear to be he’s speaking about himself, however not fairly at that time.

DEADLINE: Your character is within the highlight this season. Discuss your preliminary response to receiving the script. 

LEE BYUNG-HUN: When Director Hwang determined that we’d proceed with Season 2, I used to be interested in how the narrative would evolve. Once I first acquired the script, I believed it could be very difficult for me as an actor, however very enjoyable and juicy on the similar time to play this three persona character. As a result of I’ve to behave as Entrance Man, however I’m additionally evil. Then, generally, he talks about his previous honestly when dwelling as In-ho. Then, after he goes into the sport, he takes on this pretend identification of Oh Younger-il. So, there’s three those who I’ve to painting, and I knew it was going to be enjoyable, however I had a bit strain about whether or not I may actually pull it off. However most significantly, my coronary heart was fluttering to tackle this character. 

DEADLINE: I really like the six-legged relay race episode. What do you bear in mind about that day between you and Lee Jung-jae? 

BYUNG-HUN: This was the primary time I used to be actually taking up my pretend identification, and I believed lengthy and exhausting about whether or not I ought to actually benefit from the video games or how nervous I must be, so hanging that steadiness was actually vital to me. I talked to Director Hwang about it, and we agreed. At one level, In-ho most likely would have discovered it very suspenseful, however he was truly having fun with it himself. That’s how I attempt to painting my character in these scenes. Director Hwang instructed me that it was very enjoyable to see In-ho deliberately not doing good with the spin prime as a result of that basically escalates the strain and suspense. I loved that half too.

HWANG: He practiced together with his left hand as a result of he’s purported to be left-handed within the recreation. 

BYUNG-HUN: I’m an professional now [laughs]. 

DEADLINE: Which recreation are you all higher at in actual life?  

BYUNG-HUN: I acquired the spin prime and practiced a lot that I nearly rig any recreation. In order for you me to fail, I can fail. I may even use my proper hand. I used to be so good at it [laughs]. 

HWANG: [turns to Lee Jung-jae] you practiced so many occasions. Do you play Jegichagi? 

LEE JUNG-JAE: It’s been so lengthy since I’ve performed Jegi. At first, I couldn’t actually get it afloat, and I knew that I needed to follow loads, so I practiced loads, however my pelvis damage as a result of I practiced an excessive amount of. 

DEADLINE: Director Hwang, do you check these video games earlier than bringing them to the actors? Or do you undergo together with them on set as they play? 

HWANG: After all. I at all times rehearse myself to see how completely happy [the challenge] is. I’m good on the spin prime, however I’m not good at Jegichagi. I used to be apprehensive about him taking part in properly on set, however he did such a fantastic job. JJ was good at Jegi, however the timing is absolutely vital and exhausting to do. Not one of the actors acquired it proper, however JJ acquired the jegi afloat within the body. We had been apprehensive that we’d have to make use of some CGI as a result of no one may get it to work, however he did an ideal job. 

DEADLINE: In Season 2, you get to play satan’s advocate within the reveals about The Entrance Man and the guards. Speak extra about why you determined to uncover extra secrets and techniques and whether or not there was worry in pondering you had been revealing an excessive amount of. 

HWANG: Once I began writing the script for Season 2, I believed a very powerful factor about Season 2 and Season 3 is the conflict between Gi-hun’s conviction to finish the sport and Entrance Man to cease him from doing that. I wished to unmask him in Season 2, and I wished him to take the place of Oh Il-nam, the outdated man in Season 1. As a way to do this, I needed to inform the viewers why he turned Entrance Man. What’s the historical past? What’s the backstory behind him? I had a number of enjoyable writing and filming the half when the Entrance Man involves the bedside of Gi-hun, at Gi-hun nonetheless not understanding the true identification of this man, he tells him about why he got here into the sport, and he tells the reality as a result of he talks about why he first joined the sport a dozen years in the past. 

There’s that lie and fact ingredient each taking part in in that scene. I believed it was very fascinating how, whereas he’s tricking, he’s telling him about his true story. I additionally cherished watching Byung-hun doing a fantastic efficiency there. You requested me if I’m fearful about revealing an excessive amount of about In-ho, however I believe in Season 2, I haven’t revealed that a lot about In-ho, and also you’ll discover extra of his backstories in Season 3. Keep tuned and test it out [laugh].

DEADLINE: The final episode within the season known as “Good friend or Foe.” It begs the query: is it higher to reside ignorantly confined to the discriminatory methods the world works, or is it higher to go in opposition to the system and threat lives within the course of? How did each of you course of your character’s journeys by the tip of this season?  

JUNG-JAE: I discovered probably the most pleasing half within the script is how Gi-hun’s ideas and concepts evolve throughout his journey in Season 2. I hope viewers can generally relate to him, however generally they may disagree with him, after which hastily, they may change their thoughts and say, “Really, we want that benevolence in our society.” I believe viewers may even be on this curler coaster of adjusting feelings. As Gi-hun’s feelings change, I hope viewers’ emotions may even comply with that change and people twists and turns. If the artistic intent of this present is portrayed very properly and the viewers really feel like they’re on that curler coaster. This sense can be an enormous success, as a result of it’s not about whether or not or not Season 2 beats Season 1. It’s actually about conveying the message that we wish to get throughout. 

BYUNG-HUN: When Entrance Man decides to hitch the sport and goes into the sport, he is aware of that Gi-hun needs to overthrow this complete system, however Entrance Man is there to cease him. The 2 individuals’s targets are very clear, however Entrance Man nonetheless stays by his facet. He needs to see what he does and in addition generally exams Gi-hun to some extent. Because the journey unfolds, I consider that they developed considerably of a camaraderie as they’re taking part in the dying video games collectively, they usually’re in it collectively.

There would possibly’ve even been some moments when he discovered spots of his personal self in Gi-hun, like his previous self when he nonetheless had that benevolence left in him, and he most likely had these new views and new emotions about Gi-hun as they performed the video games collectively and went in direction of the tip of the season. On the finish, I take into consideration how Gi-hun at all times sees that there’s nonetheless hope in humanity. Entrance Man feels in any other case, however possibly there have been moments when he hoped that Gi-hun was proper, and there have been some moments when he truly wished to root for him to a small extent.

DEADLINE: In having these two play this nuanced steadiness of fine and evil. What did you admire this time of their work for this season? 

HWANG: I loved each second of working with these two on the set. Each second of working along with them on set was a pleasure. These two characters and these two actors advanced all through the season. For the episode, “Pals or Foe,” I cherished the riot scene. At first, In-ho, who’s taking part in Younger-il, disagrees then when Gi-hun tells him that we’ve got to finish this recreation whether or not we’ve got some sacrifices or not, and the facial features of In-ho barely adjustments at this second, after which he agrees to work along with him for the riot. I suppose it was the second once they met within the grey space. Gi-hun at all times wished to do one thing good. He was the great man, however this time, he acknowledges that he would possibly want some sacrifice to succeed in his aim. I really like that change in character, and I believe In-ho most likely noticed his older self in him. That could be one thing that he additionally thought to himself previously.

As a result of they share that very same emotion, that’s why they’re on this riot collectively. Watching them carry out this scene was fascinating for me as a director. It was simply so fascinating. My very favourite is the finale once they locked eyes, Gi-hun offers them the bullets that he acquired together with his life on the road, after which In-ho simply makes use of these bullets to annihilate all of the individuals. After filming that scene, I simply felt like I used to be so fortunate that I’ve these two wonderful actors. I cherished working with them. I cherished how they’re portraying the adjustments of their characters, however this isn’t the tip. In Season 3, the 2 individuals undergo one other evolution. It’s going to be much more fascinating. There’s going to be head-spinning surprises. So, as soon as once more, keep tuned [laughs]. 

DEADLINE: Was there a scene that resonated otherwise with you all after finishing it that, whereas making it, you didn’t assume it could translate properly onscreen at first? 

JUNG-JAE: For me, I must say the Purple Gentle, Inexperienced Gentle scene. I knew it needed to be actually good as a result of it’s such a symbolic recreation. It was very symbolic in Season 1 and Season 2 as a result of it was the primary recreation, and we needed to convey a brand new vibe of leisure to the viewers. It’s Gi-hun’s new tackle the identical recreation, and the primary one needed to be good to ensure that the viewers to stay round and benefit from the different video games as properly. I felt a little bit of strain with that scene, particularly as a result of this time, Gi-hun is main the 455 individuals to make sure that we don’t lose any lives anymore. I felt numerous strain whereas filming, however it turned out nice later.

BYUNG-HUN: Once I first learn the script, it was the scene after we had been taking part in the Mingle recreation, after which within the room, the place there was Jung-bae, I needed to kill a contestant. Once I’m killing the contestant, I’m trying Jung-bae within the eye whereas I’m killing him. To Jung-bae, he thought that I used to be his personal staff, and I most likely felt like a complete stranger to him at that second when he sees me killing this man. and I wished to be sure that when viewers noticed me in that scene, they noticed hints of Entrance Man, In-ho and Younger-il all in myself. I used to be targeted on portraying the scene, and I labored exhausting to be sure that I may pull off three characters in that scene.

HWANG: For me, not one scene was straightforward for me to shoot, however I’d say that one in every of my favourite [films] is Hunt, and there’s numerous Russian Roulette scenes in there, which I actually love. I believed that in one in every of my initiatives, I actually wished to check out this Russian Roulette in my very own type. There are two Russian Roulette scenes in Season 2, and the second with Gi-hun and the Recruiter is the one which I actually cherished. I wished my very own signature Russian Roulette scene with my very own twist to it, and I believe I acquired it proper. I labored exhausting on writing the script and filming the scene. Once I noticed it on the premiere, I believed the efficiency was breathtaking, and I actually loved the way it turned out. I believe there’s numerous suspense and stress in that scene, and in addition, as a result of it’s the finale of the primary episode of Season 2, that made it much more vital. After I noticed it on the premiere, I had this lengthy sigh of aid as a result of I appreciated it.

[This interview, conducted through an interpreter, has been edited for length and clarity]