We hope you have a good December 25 surrounded by joy and good food because, starting tomorrow, the atmosphere will be much bloodier on Netflix! As of this Thursday, December 26 at 9:01 a.m., the streaming platform is putting season 2 of Squid Game. Three years after the first salvo that brought the world to its feet, creator Hwang Dong-heyok and actor Lee Jung-jae plunge us back into the deadly games for a sequel consisting of only seven episodes. Gi-hun, player 456 and the only one to have survived the previous edition, decides to take revenge and put an end to the trials that have already cost the lives of so many people. A major challenge for the character, but also for his interpreter seen in 2024 in the series The Acolyte. For Télé-Loisirs, he looks back on this second season, behind the scenes of the filming and on the phenomenon which made it known throughout the world.
Squid Game saison 2 : “You will discover more endearing characters” assure Lee Jung-jae
Télé-Loisirs: What do you think of the evolution of your character and the series in this season 2?
Lee Jung-jae : Number 456 becomes more mature and sophisticated in this season. The emotions he experiences go deeper than in the first season. Gi-hun has evolved a lot. He went through a period of transition in terms of his personal arc. Therefore, the emotions that Gi-hun feels when he meets the other players are very different from those he feels when he meets new participants in season 2. But I realized that on the set, I received and accepted other people's emotions first, paying more attention to that. I think it's a bigger difference this time. As for the evolution of the series, this season, more than ever, is a reflection of our society. Season 1 was released during the pandemic. Since then, the world has not become a better place. In reality, it is heading towards the worst and accentuating all inequalities.
What are the major changes in this season 2?
I would say the first major change is the scale, which is much larger. Whether in terms of the games or the number of characters involved. The games are one of the biggest changes, along with the characters. As you know, except Gi-hun, all other characters who play the games are new. You will therefore discover more endearing characters and in whom you will invest, who are all different from those of the first season. The big difference is that players are now subject to a vote after each round. We can't help but wonder: what will happen? Will the games continue? Who will vote O or X? It's all about voting now.
“I accumulated a real feeling of loneliness” : why season 2 was difficult for Lee Jung-jae
Squid Game has become an unprecedented global phenomenon, bringing you international recognition. How has this level of fame and recognition affected you personally?
After filming season 1 of Squid GameI fortunately had a lot of opportunities to meet the press and fans in Korea, and of course, other countries as well. What really stood out to me was how important the theme and subject matter in Squid Game was. I could really feel that it was because of how this topic resonated with so many audiences around the world that the series was so successful. As an actor, I tried to focus on how to make this theme and subject matter as true and vivid as possible through my performance. But at the same time, I realized that if you focus only on the subject matter, the series can become a little too heavy. That's why I tried to find a balance between expressing these themes and bringing a certain lightness to the series. And because all of the circumstances in Season 2 flow directly from Season 1, I spent a lot of time thinking about how I interpreted Gi-hun in Season 1. What emotions did Gi-hun have? there crossings in this season? I also took the time to rewatch the series and try to remember how we filmed.
What was your favorite moment on the set of Squid Game ?
For me, my most vivid memories are playing with all these interesting and fun characters. I really enjoyed this experience. And since it's Squid Game, each round of play ends with the elimination of certain players. And when a character or actor is eliminated, we all get together for a group dinner. They are told: “You played well, goodbye“. These days were, therefore, sometimes, inevitably filled with these sad goodbyes. And as the episodes and the days of filming progressed, I accumulated a real feeling of solitude, and I felt really alone. is a unique experience that I had, because with each episode, as the filming progressed, there were fewer and fewer characters on set. I think it's a very special experience for an actor on set. the filming of Squid Game.
How do fans of Squid Game inspired Lee Jung-jae for season 2
Given the enormous impact of Squid Gamedid fan reactions from season 1 influence how you approached Gi-hun in season 2?
Of course, I tried to take into account the reactions and feedback from fans on Squid Game. Since the series has been widely adored, I thought a lot about how to bring more of what fans loved in Season 1, while still remaining true to what I had done before. I really wanted to stay true to what the audience loved about Gi-hun's character. That said, there were so many fan responses that it was difficult to take in everything. I think one of the things that viewers really liked about Gi-hun was his kindness of heart. He is always ready to help others. He may not be the strongest or the smartest, but with what he can offer, he wants to use that to help others. I think that's what a lot of people liked about Gi-hun.
From our correspondent in Hollywood: Hervé Tropéa
