'Squid Game: America'―the U.S. offshoot of Netflix's global sensation 'Squid Game'―is gearing up to start production in February.
Collider reports that David Fincher's "Squid Game: America" is slated to begin filming on Feb. 26. Casting details are still under wraps, and Netflix declined to comment.
Fans have been buzzing since Cate Blanchett's brief cameo in the "Squid Game" Season 3 finale, widely read as a breadcrumb pointing to the American installment. That scene was shot in Los Angeles rather than Korea, fueling speculation about the spinoff's setting.
Positioned as a spinoff rather than a straight remake, "Squid Game: America" will be directed by Fincher, with a script by Dennis Kelly of "Utopia." "Squid Game" creator-director Hwang Dong-hyuk and Firstman Studio CEO Kim Ji-yeon are attached as producers.
It's not yet clear whether Fincher will helm the entire run. On "House of Cards," he set the visual template early on before sharing directing duties in later seasons; on "Mindhunter," he directed select episodes while other filmmakers took the reins across the rest.
Known for films like "Se7en," "Fight Club," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "The Social Network," Fincher has a long-standing pact with Netflix, where he's overseen series such as "House of Cards," "Mindhunter" and "Love Death + Robots," and features including "Mank" and "The Killer."
A premiere date has not been set. If production kicks off early next year as planned, Collider projects a likely rollout around 2028.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)