As the world gears up for the release of Squid Game Season 3, many fans remain unaware that Netflix’s most-watched series was once a decade-long exercise in rejection, debt, and disbelief. Long before the twisted playground of survival games captivated global audiences, Squid Game was an idea dismissed as “too grotesque” by studios and actors. Its creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, struggled so much financially that he sold his laptop—worth $675—to pay rent. “I worked on it for about a year, but eventually had to shelve it,” Hwang told RadioTimes, highlighting the crushing setbacks he faced.
A Story Rooted in Poverty and Grit
The story of Squid Game began in 2009, when Hwang first started writing what would become a cultural phenomenon. Drawing inspiration from Japanese graphic novels like Battle Royale and Liar Game, he spent his days in cafés dreaming up a world that mirrored his own financial anxiety and the brutal inequality of South Korean society. “The smell of debt was all around me growing up in Ssangmun-dong,” he reflected in an interview with Variety. The show’s protagonist, Seong Gi-hun, channels Hwang’s own experiences, while fellow contestant Cho Sang-woo represents the intense academic and social pressure he endured at Seoul National University.
From ‘Grotesque’ to Global Sensation
The industry’s skepticism nearly crushed the project. Investors doubted its commercial viability, and casting was a nightmare. “Studios thought it was too complex and not commercially appealing,” Hwang recalled. But in 2021, Netflix took the gamble. Squid Game premiered on September 17 and shattered records—94 countries ranked it No.1 within a month, and it raked in $900 million in value from a modest $21.4 million budget. It clocked 1.65 billion viewing hours in its first four weeks.
Season 3: The Final Game?
The wait ends this Friday as Squid Game returns for its third and final season. Hwang confirmed that Season 3 will conclude the saga of Gi-hun, calling it “the climax—a story that’s bound to hit hard.” But he hasn’t ruled out expanding the Squid Game universe. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hwang revealed ideas for potential spinoffs, exploring what masked men and recruiters were doing during the three-year narrative gap between Seasons 1 and 2.
‘I Lost Teeth from Stress’: The Hidden Cost of Global Fame
Despite the show’s success, the pressure of helming such a massive project hasn’t been without consequences. Hwang revealed to IndieWire that he lost teeth due to stress while creating the series. For now, he’s choosing to step back—but he hasn’t entirely shut the door on returning to the world he built. “After watching Season 3, some may think there’s room for a Season 4, while others may feel there’s no need for one,” he told The Korea Times.
As millions prepare to stream Season 3, the story behind Squid Game is a potent reminder of how vision, grit, and storytelling can defy a decade of rejection. From pawning his only laptop to reshaping television history, Hwang Dong-hyuk’s journey is perhaps the most compelling survival tale of all.
Nothing can prepare you for the final season. Squid Game Season 3 premieres June 27. #NextOnNetflix pic.twitter.com/qoPAqWTRHD
— Squid Game (@squidgame) January 30, 2025
A Story Rooted in Poverty and Grit
The story of Squid Game began in 2009, when Hwang first started writing what would become a cultural phenomenon. Drawing inspiration from Japanese graphic novels like Battle Royale and Liar Game, he spent his days in cafés dreaming up a world that mirrored his own financial anxiety and the brutal inequality of South Korean society. “The smell of debt was all around me growing up in Ssangmun-dong,” he reflected in an interview with Variety. The show’s protagonist, Seong Gi-hun, channels Hwang’s own experiences, while fellow contestant Cho Sang-woo represents the intense academic and social pressure he endured at Seoul National University.
Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has revealed that Season 3 will be its darkest yet, with no promise of a happy ending. pic.twitter.com/vKAR28LTSo
— Pubity (@pubity) June 27, 2025
From ‘Grotesque’ to Global Sensation
The industry’s skepticism nearly crushed the project. Investors doubted its commercial viability, and casting was a nightmare. “Studios thought it was too complex and not commercially appealing,” Hwang recalled. But in 2021, Netflix took the gamble. Squid Game premiered on September 17 and shattered records—94 countries ranked it No.1 within a month, and it raked in $900 million in value from a modest $21.4 million budget. It clocked 1.65 billion viewing hours in its first four weeks.
Season 3: The Final Game?
The wait ends this Friday as Squid Game returns for its third and final season. Hwang confirmed that Season 3 will conclude the saga of Gi-hun, calling it “the climax—a story that’s bound to hit hard.” But he hasn’t ruled out expanding the Squid Game universe. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hwang revealed ideas for potential spinoffs, exploring what masked men and recruiters were doing during the three-year narrative gap between Seasons 1 and 2.
‘I Lost Teeth from Stress’: The Hidden Cost of Global Fame
Despite the show’s success, the pressure of helming such a massive project hasn’t been without consequences. Hwang revealed to IndieWire that he lost teeth due to stress while creating the series. For now, he’s choosing to step back—but he hasn’t entirely shut the door on returning to the world he built. “After watching Season 3, some may think there’s room for a Season 4, while others may feel there’s no need for one,” he told The Korea Times.
As millions prepare to stream Season 3, the story behind Squid Game is a potent reminder of how vision, grit, and storytelling can defy a decade of rejection. From pawning his only laptop to reshaping television history, Hwang Dong-hyuk’s journey is perhaps the most compelling survival tale of all.
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