What to Expect from Squid Game’s US Spinoff
Last updated: December 23, 2025
The South Korean show Squid Game took the world by storm when it originally debuted on Netflix back in 2021. It’s been argued to have changed how people view streaming entertainment and engage with it in real-time. Now, the show has become one of Netflix’s biggest brands alongside other hits like Stranger Things.
Now that so much attention has been paid to the show, a US-based version is in the works. Not only would the project need to be an original story in its own right, but it would also be expected to preserve everything that made Squid Game so iconic. Since South Korea and the US are such different places, viewers are going to have to understand that the culture and way it is presented are bound to be different.
There are a lot of points within the original Squid Game that are very specific to South Korean culture, like the childhood games and life experiences characters face. The US Squid Game may instead act more like a cousin that has a lot of the same qualities, but can stand on its own as a piece of media. If it’s exactly the same, there won’t be much of a reason to enjoy a second version.
Considering how globally popular Squid Game was on release, the US version has a good chance of also being a part of different social media challenges and even interactive entertainment. These adaptations include UK online slot games like Squid Game: One Lucky Day. It meshes the show’s iconic imagery with different, escalating stakes. Adaptations like this reflect just how instantly recognisable Squid Game has become, even outside of the show’s context.
When it comes to a production standpoint, a US spinoff will be faced with higher expectations, requiring a huge budget and advanced effects. There are many fans of the original who are likely to be wary of any remakes, especially considering the failures of shows like Skins. However, there are also many shows who have succeeded in creating a new rendition of a well-loved show, like The Office.
Casting is also going to play a critical role in the show's success. The original thrived on a strong ensemble of characters that many people in the United States didn’t know about to begin with. A US version of the same show will likely aim to mix recognisable faces and talent with lesser-known actors so that viewers can connect better with the characters they see on-screen.
At the end of the day, the success of Squid Game’s US will really rest on whether or not producers are willing to take risks. Not only did the original version of the show shake audiences to their core, but it also showed them things they’d never seen before and challenged them visually. Squid Game has shown no signs of slowing down, despite the official show having already ended, and the US version will likely continue to put it on a high pedestal.
