The eagerly anticipated third season of Netflix's international sensation, "Squid Game," has finally secured an official release date. On Thursday (U.S. time), the streaming giant revealed that the highly anticipated conclusion of the series, its third and final season, will arrive on June 27, marking a swift return just six months after the thrilling debut of Season 2. It's worth noting that Season 2 had taken an extensive three years and three months to materialize following the September 2021 premiere of Season 1. This time, Season 3 was filmed concurrently with Season 2, encompassing seven gripping episodes.
Netflix also unveiled a promotional poster and fresh stills, offering fans a tantalizing glimpse into the fate of "Squid Game's" protagonist Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), his enigmatic nemesis Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), and a myriad of other characters entangled in the harrowing competition.
The Season 3 poster depicts a soldier clad in the iconic pink uniform, dragging a fallen participant adorned with the number 214—a minor figure who met an untimely demise in Season 2. Looming ominously overhead are the eerie shadows of Young-hee, the colossal motion-sensing animatronic doll that keeps a vigilant watch over players' every move, and Cheol-soo, another iconic game character who has garnered immense curiosity from viewers after a teaser poster hinted at his Season 3 appearance in a role akin to Young-hee's.
Five fresh stills from the impending season have also been unveiled, painting vivid pictures of key characters amidst diverse scenarios. Gi-hun is visible, handcuffed and defiant, following an apparent failed rebellion. The enigmatic Front Man ponders deeply, clutching his signature black mask. A group scene portrays characters mourning around a coffin, with Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon), Geum-ja (Kang Ae-shim), Yong-sik (Yang Dong-geun), and Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri) prominently featured.
Most strikingly, a still of Noh-eul (Park Gyu-young) sans her soldier mask, gazing intently at something beyond the game area, hints at a potentially pivotal role she will play in the new season.
In a letter released by Netflix, series creator, writer, and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk expressed his boundless excitement for the upcoming season. "I am absolutely thrilled to witness the seed I planted in creating a new 'Squid Game' blossom and yield fruit until the story reaches its conclusion," Hwang penned. "We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that you are treated to another breathtaking thrill ride."
During its January 21 quarterly earnings report, Netflix disclosed that Season 2 was poised to become "one of the most-watched seasons" of an original series on the platform, having garnered an impressive 165.7 million views in the fourth quarter of the previous year.
