South Korea’s push into the global media scene has taken on several forms. K-pop has made a name for itself in the musical sphere, “Parasite” did exceedingly well in the 2019 Academy Awards, and series like “Squid Game“ dominated popular discourse and streaming hours when it premiered on Netflix in 2021. The series from writer and director Hwang Dong-hyuk has become something of an empire unto itself with spin-offs in the reality show sector, games, and influencing other projects and creators. About the only thing it doesn’t have at the moment is an English language version, but that might be changing thanks to director David Fincher.
Fincher is no stranger to Netflix. His last two films “Mank” and “The Killer” were distributed by the company. He’s directed episodes of “Love, Death & Robots,” and “House of Cards” for them. Sources indicate the company and director will be teaming up again to make an English language adaptation of “Squid Game,” potentially set in the United States. With the amount of media that comes spilling out from the various production companies and networks at such a rapid rate, it’s easy to forget how big something was when it came out. “Squid Game” was a huge success in a way that struck a chord both critically and commercially. The twisted game show setting was perfect for keeping audiences engaged from episode to episode while the overall themes of social and economic disparity gave the series a hard, cynical and satirical edge.
The only real question is, do we need an English adaptation of it? If anyone would be up to the task of making it work, Fincher would be the guy. The director of “Gone Girl,” “Se7en,” and “Zodiac” knows his way around dark thrillers. The themes of the original series would still resonate in the remake if it’s set in the United States as well. Economic and social inequality is as much of an issue in the US in its own way, as it is in other nations. Some of the cultural elements may be different but are they different enough to necessitate a new version?
At the very least, Fincher has the talent to make this kind of project succeed, if it is indeed in the works between him and Netflix. If we find out more, we’ll report on it. In the meantime, a second season of the original Korean “Squid Game” is set for release on Netflix this December.
