While Squid Game's The Recruiter, played by Gong Yoo, does get a spin-off, it might be in English and not under creator Hwang Dong-hyuk
Last Updated: 06.22 PM, Feb 01, 2025
Squid Game has managed to bring the globe together once again with season 2, so much so that season 3 is one of the most-awaited non-English shows of 2025. Although there was a strong buzz that Squid Game 3 will be the endgame and we would no longer see any more from the universe, the truth is far from it. Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has confirmed that Netflix is not willing to let go of Squid Game so easily and among the many ideas thrown around, he also hinted at Gong Yoo's The Recruiter spin-off. Here's where the Squid Game universe could go from here...
Hwang Dong-hyuk had mentioned to The Hollywood Reporter a while ago that there are various ideas around the Squid Game universe, and turning Gong Yoo's The Recruiter into a spin-off series is one among them. "If the time comes, and it just so happens that I’m able to come up with a character or a different story, then maybe there might be a comeback. But I’m thinking more along the lines of a spinoff," he shared. It is to be noted that the viewers were made to believe that The Recruiter shot himself and is dead in the beginning of Squid Game season 2. But when looking back, many noticed that The Recruiter might actually be alive and could have faked his death. Although that might or might not be possible, a spin-off around him is something people would want to watch, to know his backstory.
The main idea is to bring forth what happened during the three-year gap since Gi-hun winning Squid Game and what was The Frontman/The Recruiter doing around the time. It is to be noted that Gi-hun was tracking every move since winning the game, because he wanted to find a way to stop Squid Game. So, while The Recruiter's story is something that everybody is interested in, Frontman's story is already out there and those who know about it, understand that he wasn't rotten at the core but it was his situation that turned him stone-hearted, to the extent that he put a bullet through his brother's chest (and still indirectly saved him through the Captain). Thus, there's always a fine line that the Frontman treads when understanding who is trash and deserves to die, and who might just deserve another chance at life (after all, many ex-players are also recruited as the guards, at least from the story deciphered so far).
Also read: Squid Game season 3: Release window, what to expect, and more - Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk answers
Squid Game season 3, the creator confirms, will see Gi-hun clash with the Frontman again. Although Squid Game 2 was all about their unusual and unrequitted bromance (Frontman felt betrayed and went back to his duties), Squid Game 3 will see Gi-hun clash with the very person he thought was a part of his team so far. Towards the end of Squid Game 2, Gi-hun sees his best friend shot in front of him. The Frontman, who might or might not be Lee Byun-hyun's character, spares Gi-hun and the games resume from that moment on. Interestingly enough, in a spoiler doing rounds of the internet, Gi-hun might also be dead in season 3. But, it's too early to assume anything at this point. Was Gi-hun forced into becoming a guard or did he really die, this is a question waiting to be answered if the spoiler holds any truth. For now, the only truth is that Netflix has a lot of ideas around Squid Game, and Dong-hyuk might be a part of at least one. The creator has also hinted that the spin-off might be in English and not Korean, with David Fincher taking on the role of the director and Dong-hyuk being associated with the project in some other way.