The Business

‘Squid Game’ creator on the series’ global success and Netflix as a platform


Listen Later

“Squid Game” creator Hwang Dong-hyuk had never written a TV series before, but after a decade conceptualizing it, he created an unprecedented global sensation. “Squid Game” is about a dystopian survival competition where hundreds of cash-strapped players aim for a multi-million dollar cash prize. The show has become No. 1 in 90 countries and the most-watched Netflix program of all time. The USC-trained filmmaker had big ambitions for the project, but was blown away by how many people worldwide are fans. “I wanted to make a global TV show. My goal was hitting number one in the U.S. Netflix rank. But I never expected this kind of big success,” he says. When Hwang proposed “Squid Game,” it was considered too weird and too violent. So while he searched for investors for that project, he directed three acclaimed films: “The Crucible,” “Miss Granny,” and “The Fortress.” In 2018, Netflix took a closer look, “got hooked,” and greenlit the show. The streaming service’s global platform gave the show visibility and a massive audience. With all the achievements, Hwang has agreed to work on season two, which could be out by the end of 2023 or 2024. And the streaming service may be spawning a “Squid Game” universe.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The BusinessBy KCRW

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

637 ratings


More shows like The Business

View all
Left, Right & Center by KCRW

Left, Right & Center

5,023 Listeners

Bookworm by KCRW

Bookworm

573 Listeners

The Treatment by KCRW

The Treatment

604 Listeners

Good Food by KCRW

Good Food

1,075 Listeners

Scriptnotes Podcast by John August and Craig Mazin

Scriptnotes Podcast

2,395 Listeners

Press Play with Madeleine Brand by KCRW

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

147 Listeners

IndieWire: Screen Talk by Indiewire: Screen Talk

IndieWire: Screen Talk

322 Listeners

Nocturne by Vanessa Lowe

Nocturne

1,273 Listeners

Little Gold Men by Vanity Fair by Conde Nast & Vanity Fair

Little Gold Men by Vanity Fair

1,068 Listeners

Scheer Intelligence by Scheerpost

Scheer Intelligence

389 Listeners

The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast by Directors Guild of America

The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

713 Listeners

The No Film School Podcast by No Film School

The No Film School Podcast

419 Listeners

The Watch by The Ringer

The Watch

5,332 Listeners

IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit by Chris O'Falt

IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit

96 Listeners

Lost Notes: Groupies by KCRW

Lost Notes: Groupies

705 Listeners

The Big Picture by The Ringer

The Big Picture

5,317 Listeners

The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna by Meg LeFauve & Lorien McKenna

The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

918 Listeners

Life Examined by KCRW

Life Examined

309 Listeners

Script Apart with Al Horner by Script Apart

Script Apart with Al Horner

162 Listeners

The Powers That Be: Daily by Puck | Audacy

The Powers That Be: Daily

346 Listeners

The Ankler Podcast by TheAnkler.com

The Ankler Podcast

97 Listeners

The Town with Matthew Belloni by The Ringer

The Town with Matthew Belloni

944 Listeners

Prestige Junkie by TheAnkler.com

Prestige Junkie

82 Listeners