‘Squid Game’: Lee Jung-jae’s Theory About Gi-hun’s Role In Season 2
Squid Game has been a Netflix phenomenon. The green track suits or red guards were popular Halloween costumes in October. Fans who became obsessed with the Korean drama, starring Lee Jung-jae, are hoping there’s a second season. Netflix has not confirmed one yet, but the ending of the first season certainly leaves it open for one.
[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for Squid Game.]
Lee spoke with the New York Times on Oct. 18, a month after Squid Game premiered on Netflix. Lee had some ideas of his own about where his character could go following the season finale. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk is already working on season 2, anticipating he’ll get a chance to make it.
Is ‘Squid Game’ getting a season 2?
Lee played Seong Gi-hun, the lone survivor and winner of the death game. One year after the game, Gi-hun learns that Il-nam (Oh Yeong-su) didn’t die in the game, but was in fact the mastermind of it all. Il-nam still died of illness, though. Gi-hun donated the prize money to Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo)’s family. He was going to go to Los Angeles, but stopped when he saw the salesman (Gong Ji-cheol) starting a new game. Lee believes the ending opens lots of doors.
“The story could go in any direction, and some of Gi-hun’s emotions are very complicated,” Lee told The Times. “He’s a very intriguing character. I guess he could go and try and punish the creators of the game. Or he could try to stop new contestants from playing it. Or he could try to join the game again. I have no idea at this point.”
Lee Jung-jae entertains ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 theories
This is pure speculation because Lee has not heard about a Squid Game season 2, let alone seen a script. But, the Times suggested that Gi-hun could become the new Front Man. Lee doesn’t like that idea.
“Well, for one, I’m never going to let anyone die!” Lee told the Times. “If the story does go in that direction, Gi-hun would end up in a position like Oh Il-nam, the old guy.”
Lee also has a more tragic idea for Gi-hun.
“But you know, in The Deer Hunter, the character that Christopher Walken plays never makes it out of the game, right?” Lee said. “That could be what happens.”
Lee Jung-jae would not win the game
Reflecting on the death game in Squid Game, Lee does not expect he would be victorious like Gi-hun. Even the simplest games they played would be a challenge to him.
“I’m very bad at games,” Lee said. “I never would have made it to the end of ‘Squid Game’ myself. Well, maybe I would have done a relatively good job at marbles, but I don’t think I would have lasted that long. I would have dropped out earlier on in the game.”
Gi-Hun entered the game with his friend Sang-woo. Sang-woo became quite a cutthroat player.
“Even in Episode 1, when he tries to introduce Sang-woo to other people,” Lee told the Times, “Gi-hun says over and over again that Sang-woo was the smartest kid in his neighborhood. But his friend made so many bad choices in his life, and now in the game, deceiving other people, killing other people. It came as a big shock to Gi-hun when somebody who made him so proud did such brutal things.”
