“Players, prepare yourselves. » Just one week after the launch of the illuminations on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées (8th arrondissement), the most famous axis in the world will be transformed for one afternoon into a giant playground in the colors of the series “Squid Game”, the Netflix platform announced this Monday in a press release.
This operation celebrates the return of the Korean phenomenon series, the second season of which will be released next Thursday, December 26, 2024. The public – 456 fans drawn at random – is invited to participate in what amounts to a giant “1, 2, 3 Sun”, directly inspired by one of the cult and dramatic scenes from the TV program.
Hopscotch, motor skills course, elastic and skipping rope… Other games will also be offered by the Committee of the Champs-Élysées at the bottom of the avenue. “On 300 m2, everyone will find the games of their childhood (…)”, promises the committee.
“Playing collectively will be essential”
The selected fans will be divided into 3 teams led by renowned captains: content creators Maghla, Just Riadh and Inoxtag. “Players from each team will adopt the best strategy to stay in the race and reach the finish line. All in a friendly atmosphere where playing together will be appropriate,” teases Netflix. At the same time, those registered will be invited to participate in a second part of “1,2,3 soleil” which everyone will be able to observe from both sides of the avenue where stands will be installed especially for the occasion.
To announce this event, the streaming platform unveiled a video this Monday featuring the three stars of social networks and YouTube dressed in a green tracksuit, a reference to the uniform worn by the heroes of “Squid Game”.
To participate in the game, it is possible to register on a dedicated site. Those who are not selected will be able to console themselves by watching the event live on the Inoxtag channel from 1:15 p.m.
Best start in Netflix history
For this operation, Netflix is collaborating with the Committee of the Champs-Élysées, an association which brings together the 180 actors of the avenue linking the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, whether private (Galeries Lafayette, LVMH – also owner of Parisien –, Renault…) or public (Grand Palais, Petit Palais…). Since 2016, this association has worked with the Ubi bene agency to design major events on the avenue, such as the last three editions of Un Dimanche au Cinéma, the first L'Oréal democratic parade, and the Grande Dictée des Champs or, more recently, the Grand Picnic des Champs.
Becoming extremely popular upon its broadcast, “Squid Game”, the first part of which was released in September 2021, holds the record for the best start in Netflix history with 571.76 million hours viewed worldwide from the first week of operation. Since this global success, a reality show inspired by the series has been released on Netflix, and a video game must be adapted soon. The release of the third and final season is already planned for sometime in 2025.
