Season 2 of "Squid Game" has been confirmed, according to the Korean drama's creators The Squid Game has been an international sensation, ranking in the US Netflix Top 10 for several weeks Season 2 is definitely in the works, and writer-director Hwang Dong-hyuk indicated that the show has finally entered the development process

Squid Game is part Hunger Games and part battle royale It invites 456 adults who have struggled financially to compete in a mysterious survival competition They participate in traditional children's games such as tug-of-war and red light/green light, but with a deadly twist in order to win the approximately $385 million prize The violence and blood are not for those with weak hearts or stomachs

The nine-episode first season premiered on Netflix on September 17 and reached #8 on the Top 10 rankings two days later; on its fourth day, September 21, it reached #1

Here is what we know so far about Squid Game season 2

Warning: spoilers for the entire season 1 follow

Netflix has not yet ordered Season 2 of Squid Game Typically, streamers do not announce renewals until a month after the release of the previous season at the earliest

A more significant obstacle to "Squid Game" Season 2 was that writer/director Hwang Dong-hyuk previously expressed hesitation about continuing the show

The production process of "Squid Game" Season 1 was long, difficult, and stressful, he told Variety He first began developing the idea as a feature film in 2008

Now, despite the show's success, Hwang said, "I don't really plan for 'Squid Game 2' Just thinking about it is quite exhausting But if I were to do it, I wouldn't do it alone I would consider using the writers' room, and I would want more than one experienced director"

But in a new interview with the Associated Press, Hwang seems to have changed his mind

"The pressure, the demands, the love for the second season is so great So I feel like they are not leaving us any choice"

said a fan 'But I will tell you there really is a second season It's in my mind right now It's in the planning stages right now But I think it's premature to say when and how it will happen"

One thing I do know: "Giffen will be back He will do something for the world"

If the show does return, "Squid Game" Season 2 will almost certainly have a completely new cast, as almost all of the game's players have died

The one known exception is divorced father and gambling addict Song Ki-hoon (Lee Jung-jae), who joins the game to clear his debts He eventually wins And the producers have said that Ki-Hoon will definitely return for season 2

Another character who could return is police officer Hwang Jun-ho (Wee Ha-jung), who sneaks into the game to look for his missing brother When Joon-ho was last seen, he had been shot and fallen off a cliff into the sea However, his body was not seen and he may have survived

If so, the revelation that his brother is a front man (Lee Byung-hun) who helps run the game would make for some fascinating material for season two

First, let's talk about the conclusion of "Squid Game" Season 1 In the sixth and final game, "Squid Game," Gihoon faced off against his childhood friend Sang-woo When Gihoon refused to continue, Sang-woo stabbed him and asked him to help his mother with the prize money

A year later, however, Gi-Hoon had no access to his prize money at all He receives an invitation to a gold game and learns that Player 001 is a rich VIP named Oh Il-nam The dying Il-nam gives Gihoon one last try, and Gihoon emerges from his depression

Gi-hoon fulfills his promise to Sang-woo and the others and heads to the airport to reunite with his estranged daughter There he finds the salesman (Gong Yoo) who recruited him into the game Gihoon calls the phone number on the recruitment card, but the game makers tell him to forget about it Instead of getting on the plane, Gihoon leaves, presumably to finish the game

Season 2 of "Squid Game" could follow Gihoon's struggle to end the game If Joon-ho lives, he may be rescued by the cops He will definitely have to settle with his brother's front man