Nearly three years after Squid Game took the world by storm on Netflix, the show has revealed when the next two seasons will be released, with a much shorter wait.
Netflix announced on Wednesday that Season 2 will debut on Thursday, December 26, and also that the third and final season will arrive in 2025.
The first season launched in mid-September 2021 and became a global sensation, along with Netflix’s biggest show in the streamer’s history.
The show has amassed over 1.65 billion global viewing hours in the first 28 days and became the first show ever to have been watched by over 100 million Netflix accounts (111 million) in that time frame, and also spawned the reality competition series Squid Game: The Challenge.
The streaming service has also released a brief Olympics-themed teaser, that shows a seemingly normal race that goes awry.
Nearly three years after Squid Game took the world by storm on Netflix , the show has revealed when the next two seasons will be released, with a much shorter wait
![The first season launched in mid-September 2021 and became a global sensation, along with Netflix's biggest show in the streamer's history](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/01/01/88020503-13695931-image-m-26_1722471998036.jpg)
The first season launched in mid-September 2021 and became a global sensation, along with Netflix’s biggest show in the streamer’s history
The trailer shows a number of track and field competitors lining up at the blocks for a race, which begins with the firing of the starter pistol.
The competitors all take off running… but soon they’re overcome by the familiar green jumpsuits of the Squid Game competitors.
The racers fall back as some of the Squid Game competitors fall to the ground while others keep running before we see a small podium with the mysterious character known only as Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who oversees Squid Game.
While the competitors keep running chaotically, Front Man – flanked on each side by four of his pink-suited cronies in the trailer.
Front Man says in Korean, ‘It’s been three years. Do you want to play again?’ with the trailer ending with the release date announcement.
The series follows a secret contest where 456 people in dire financial straits are brought to play a game that could make them incredibly wealthy.
They soon find out how deadly the game really is, with familiar Korean childhood games given deadly twists, with each death contributing to the growing pool… with the last person standing to win it tall.
The first season centered on divorced gambling addict Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who tries to turn things around to make life better for his daughter.
![The first season launched in mid-September 2021 and became a global sensation, along with Netflix's biggest show in the streamer's history](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/01/01/88020491-13695931-image-a-27_1722472040017.jpg)
The first season launched in mid-September 2021 and became a global sensation, along with Netflix’s biggest show in the streamer’s history
![While the competitors keep running chaotically, Front Man - flanked on each side by four of his pink-suited cronies in the trailer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/01/01/88020493-13695931-image-a-28_1722472064680.jpg)
While the competitors keep running chaotically, Front Man – flanked on each side by four of his pink-suited cronies in the trailer
![The series follows a secret contest where 456 people in dire financial straits are brought to play a game that could make them incredibly wealthy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/01/01/88020519-13695931-image-a-29_1722472086869.jpg)
The series follows a secret contest where 456 people in dire financial straits are brought to play a game that could make them incredibly wealthy
![The first season centered on divorced gambling addict Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who tries to turn things around to make life better for his daughter](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/01/01/88020527-13695931-image-a-30_1722472104748.jpg)
The first season centered on divorced gambling addict Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who tries to turn things around to make life better for his daughter
![He ultimately comes out victorious, but emerges traumatized from everything he's seen and done, and vowed to find those running the game at the end of Season 1](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/01/01/88020525-13695931-image-a-31_1722472128067.jpg)
He ultimately comes out victorious, but emerges traumatized from everything he’s seen and done, and vowed to find those running the game at the end of Season 1
!['Seong Gi-hun who vowed revenge at the end of Season 1 returns and joins the game again. Will he succeed in getting his revenge? Front Man doesn't seem to be an easy opponent this time either. The fierce clash between their two worlds will continue into the series finale with Season 3, which will be brought to you next year,' he continued](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/01/01/88020515-13695931-image-a-32_1722472142603.jpg)
‘Seong Gi-hun who vowed revenge at the end of Season 1 returns and joins the game again. Will he succeed in getting his revenge? Front Man doesn’t seem to be an easy opponent this time either. The fierce clash between their two worlds will continue into the series finale with Season 3, which will be brought to you next year,’ he continued
![Fans react with glee to Squid Game's return in December](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/01/01/88020639-13695931-image-a-33_1722472530109.jpg)
Fans react with glee to Squid Game’s return in December
![Fans are thrilled that Squid Game is coming back for Season 2 three years later](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/01/01/88020635-13695931-image-a-34_1722472548842.jpg)
Fans are thrilled that Squid Game is coming back for Season 2 three years later
![Many fans expressed their excitement for Squid Game's return](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/01/01/88020643-13695931-image-a-35_1722472569077.jpg)
Many fans expressed their excitement for Squid Game’s return
![The fans have spoken about Squid Game Season 2](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/01/01/88020641-13695931-image-a-36_1722472584491.jpg)
The fans have spoken about Squid Game Season 2
He ultimately comes out victorious, but emerges traumatized from everything he’s seen and done, and vowed to find those running the game at the end of Season 1.
Lee Jung-jae will return alongside Lee Byung-hun as Front Man, Gong Yoo as The Recruiter (who lured Gi-hun in with a game of Ddakji) and Wi Ha-joon as Detective Hwang Jun-ho for Season 2.
Jun-ho was shot by Front Man – who turned out to be his long-missing brother – at the end of Season 1, and he fell off a cliff, leaving his fate uncertain, though it seems he somehow survived that fall.
Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk – who wrote and directed all 10 episodes – also shared a letter to the fans in a Netflix press release.
‘It’s been almost three years since Season 1 was met with incredible response around the world and many unimaginable events took place. I am beyond excited to be writing this letter to announce the date for Season 2 and share the news of Season 3, the final season,’ he began.
‘On the first day we began shooting Season 2, I remember thinking, “Wow, I can’t believe I’m back in the world of Squid Game.” It almost felt surreal. I wonder how it will feel for you to be back in Squid Game after three years, as well,’ he added.
‘Seong Gi-hun who vowed revenge at the end of Season 1 returns and joins the game again. Will he succeed in getting his revenge? Front Man doesn’t seem to be an easy opponent this time either. The fierce clash between their two worlds will continue into the series finale with Season 3, which will be brought to you next year,’ he continued.
‘I am thrilled to see the seed that was planted in creating a new Squid Game grow and bear fruit through the end of this story,’ Dong-hyuk added.
‘We’ll do our best to make sure we bring you yet another thrill ride. I hope you’re excited for what’s to come. Thank you, always, and see you soon, everyone,’ he concluded.