The long-rumored American Squid Game series has reportedly been canceled by Netflix. Though technically never officially announced by the streamer, there were numerous reports indicating plans of a spin-off the wildly popular Korean series.
These rumors were substantiated by the ending of Squid Game Season 3, which featured a Cate Blanchett cameo as an American recruiter for the deadly titular competition.
David Fincher, who is known for his dark, meticulous psychological thrillers like Se7en and Fight Club, was reportedly courted by Netflix for the American-based Squid Game. Reports intensified in 2025 after the Season 3 finale of the Korean series.
However, according to The Playlist, the project, which was codenamed "Heckler," is no longer moving forward. The site notes:
"According to insiders, the project originated during a period when Netflix was particularly eager to develop an American version of its Korean phenomenon. But after years in development and various executive changes at the streamer, the sources believe Netflix’s priorities for the franchise have shifted."
This doesn't necessarily mean Netflix is completely abandoning the Squid Game IP though. Rather than building its strategy around one English-language American spin-off, Netflix is apparently more interesting in exploring versions tailored to various international markets. A source speculated we could get a Squid Game for multiple regions, though there are no specific plans at the company.
Squid Game was created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, who wrote and directed the hit South Korean series for Netflix. It premiered on Netflix in September 2021, and quickly became a global phenomenon. It racked up more than 1.65 billion viewing hours in its first 28 days and became Netflix's most-watched series at the time.
The first season followed Seong Gi-hun, a debt-ridden father who joins 455 other financially desperate contestants in a mysterious competition for a massive cash prize. What originally appeared to be a competition based around children's games, turns out to be a deadly fight for survival.
After more than a three-year wait, Squid Game returned for its second season in December 2024, with Gi-hun returning to the competition in attempt to bring down the organization behind the games. Season 2 proved to be just as successful, drawing 68 million views in its first four days.
The story concluded with a third and final season in June 2027, setting the stage for potential spin-offs. Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk was open to telling more stories based in the universe, but he was apparently never involved in Fincher's spin-off.