"Squid Game" U.S. Spinoff Shelved as Netflix Shifts Priorities

[Financial News] The production of a U.S. spinoff of Netflix's hit original series "Squid Game" has fallen through.
On the 8th local time, U.S. entertainment outlet The Playlist and others reported that Netflix had decided not to move forward with the U.S. spinoff, tentatively titled "Heckler."
Earlier, director David Fincher, known for "Fight Club," "Zodiac," and "Gone Girl," was expected to direct "Heckler," while Dennis Kelly, who worked on the series "Utopia," was set to write the script.
There were also reports that the project would be filmed in the United Kingdom this year.
In particular, the final episode of "Squid Game 3" showed the Front Man, played by Lee Byung-hun, playing ddakji with actor Cate Blanchett in an alley in Los Angeles, fueling expectations for a U.S. version.
However, Fincher was reportedly tied up with projects including Netflix's "The Adventures of Cliff Booth," written by Quentin Tarantino and starring Brad Pitt, which appears to have weakened momentum for the spinoff.
In addition, after executive changes at Netflix and years of development, priorities at the over-the-top media service (OTT) were said to have shifted, with more attention now being given to versions tailored to individual markets rather than a U.S. adaptation.
One source explained that there are currently no regional versions of a "Squid Game" spinoff in production.
"Squid Game," starring Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun, is regarded as one of Netflix's biggest hits. It became the first Korean production to win at the Critics Choice Awards in 2022, and later that year it drew attention by taking home six trophies at the Emmy Awards, the most prestigious honors in U.S. television.
[email protected] Ahn Ga-eul Reporter