Squid Game: The Challenge season 2 is happening (and will probably arrive before Squid Game season 2)

Just hours ahead of the Squid Game: The Challenge season 1 finale on Dec. 6, 2023 (the episode begins streaming at 9 p.m. ET), Netflix announced that it’s already renewed the hit reality series for a second season. Get ready! Squid Game: The Challenge season 2 is happening!

Another group of 456 contestants will once again vie for the grand cash prize of $4.56 million. According to a press release, the show has ranked No. 1 on the streamer’s Top10 English TV list the week of Nov. 20 (the season debuted Nov. 22) and the week of Nov. 27. It was also in the Top 10 in 93 countries, Netflix reports. Netflix VP of Nonfiction Series Brandon Riegg said the following in a statement:

"There was no red light in our decision to greenlight season two of Squid Game: The Challenge, the most ambitious unscripted show we’ve premiered at Netflix. We’re so excited to continue the franchise of Squid Game with our team in Korea, and producers at Studio Lambert and The Garden for this epic competition series."

How to apply to Squid Game: The Challenge season 2

Netflix certainly is wasting no time! Though we don’t have a release date yet, recruitment is already underway for Squid Game: The Challenge season 2. It’s a pretty easy process, that we’ll be happy to walk you through:

• Visit SquidGameCasting.com
• Choose from “US Casting,” “UK Casting,” or “Global Casting” based on where you live
• Enter your personal information
• Record and upload a 1-minute video to submit
• Upload two photographs
• Click “Register” to be considered!

It will be interesting to see what games the show decides to repeat in the second season, and which all-new ones it might come up with. I think what made the first season exciting is the fact that almost all of the main games we know from the fictional Squid Game series were included.

But, there were also surprise ones that took us as viewers by surprise, as well as the contestants. After all, you do need to keep them on their toes! The name of the game is to test their “strategies, alliances, and character.” And that’s definitely what happened! The only game they didn’t play in the inaugural season was Tug of War. I wonder if it will be a part of the second season?

We’re still waiting for a Squid Game season 2 release date

The first season of Squid Game: The Challenge was announced to be in the works in June 2022, and the season didn’t debut until nearly a year and a half later in November 2023. So is that how long we’re going to have to wait once again for the second season? Maybe. Maybe not.

Honestly, I do think that Netflix will be able to turn the second installment around quicker this time. Reality shows don’t take too much post-production time like scripted series’ do. Plus, there’s a big chance that the first season was ready to go a while ago, but Netflix held it due to the writers’ and actors’ strikes. They needed enough new content to debut while new contracts were being negotiated.

Because of the nature of reality shows and the fact that I think Netflix is going to want to hold on to flagship series Squid Game season 2 for a while since it’s one of the streamer’s biggest hits, I think we’re going to get Squid Game: The Challenge season 2 before the second season of the fictional series. That’s because it sounds like the second season is going to take a bit longer to film due to it being “bigger,” according to lead star Lee Jung-jae who played Seong Gi-hun. Here’s what he said in an interview with Ilgan Sports:

"Squid Game 2 will begin filming in the summer and the filming will likely last for about 10 months. We were working on season 1 for about 10 months as well, but that was with delays caused by COVID-19. But seeing as season 2 will be bigger in scale, it will probably take longer to complete."

Let’s assume that season 2 started production in June 2023. That means filming wouldn’t wrap until about 10 months later in April 2024. The cameras may have started rolling a little earlier at the end of May, or a bit later in July or August. Either way, production on Squid Game season 2 isn’t going to be done until about April 2024. Then, the post-production team will probably need at least a couple of months to get the season ready.

So that’s why I really think that there’s a high chance we’ll get Squid Game: The Challenge season 2 before the premiere of Squid Game season 2. It just makes more sense. While I truly miss the flagship show, which dropped in 2021, at least we have the reality series to look forward to. And hopefully sooner than we think!

The 10-episode season of Squid Game: The Challenge has been a whirlwind so far, and it all comes to a head in the finale on Dec. 6! The final three are: 016 Sam, 287 Mai, and 451 Phill. If I had to take a guess on who’s capable of winning it all, I’d say it’s Mai. Who do you think will win?

Stay tuned to Netflix Life as we bring you updates about Squid Game: The Challenge season 2 and Squid Game season 2 on Netflix!