'Squid Game 3': Did Netflix Just Accidentally Reveal the Release Date?

2 days ago 2

Days after the release of Squid Game's highly-anticipated second season, social media is abuzz with speculation that Netflix has accidentally revealed the date of the third installment of the Korean hit.

Debuting in September 2021 to critical acclaim and widespread popularity, the first season of Squid Game followed a group of cash-strapped people who are lured to an island where they compete for a massive cash prize—with all but the winner killed along the way. The game was created to entertain a group of rich gamblers.

The show has been such a huge hit that it inspired last year's Netflix reality show, Squid Game: The Challenge.

After much anticipation, the second season of the show was released on December 26, 2024, and quickly broke records. The latest batch of episodes amassed 68 million views in the first four days after its release, trouncing previous record holder Wednesday, which drew in 50.1 million views on its release back in 2022.

On January 1, fans who had already binged their way through the new season were treated to a snippet of what to expect next when a teaser for Season 3 was shared by Netflix across social media.

Dominating discussion among fans is a claim that Netflix Korea, in sharing the teaser, accidentally revealed that Squid Game 3 will be released on June 27, 2025. The claims have been shared on a number of accounts on X, formerly Twitter, where screenshots have been provided of the purported slip-up.

One post from TV and movie news platform The Hollywood Handle, which has more than 110,000 followers, shared the claim on January 1, along with screenshots. As of press time, the post has been viewed more than 2.5 million times.

According to social media users, the video sharing the date was eventually deleted by Netflix. Newsweek has contacted representatives of Netflix via email for comment.

'Squid Game' Season 3: What Has Netflix Said?

To date, Netflix has only posted a teaser for the third season, and confirmed that it is "coming 2025." No specifics on dates have been shared by the platform.

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk gave a more specific timeframe during an interview with Variety that was published in December.

"At this point, anything I might say is going to be a spoiler, so I want to be cautious," he told the publication. "But what I can say is, after Season 2 launches, I believe we will be announcing the launch date for Season 3 soon. I probably expect that to launch around summer or fall next year."

What Do We Know About the Lineup?

Spoiler alert: As Squid Game fans know, Season 2 saw Lee Jung-jae return as Seong Gi-hun (also known as Player 456). Over the course of seven episodes, he was shown returning to the mysterious island where the games are held to try and infiltrate and bring down the operation.

With Gi-hun's mission remaining incomplete, fans can expect his return, including that of surviving contestants amid their uprising against the armed pink guards employed to keep them in line.

The teaser for Season 3 shifts focus from that storyline to showcase the giant, sinister doll Young-hee (famed for the deadly "Red Light, Green Light") game coming face to face with a male doll called Chul-su.

A video shared on one of Netflix's YouTube channels, Still Watching Netflix, gives a breakdown of the history between the dolls, who are described as being "similar to the American versions Dick and Jane or Jack and Jill."

The video further explained that the dolls "were used to teach Korean kids about morals, good behaviors, and to learn how to read and write."

How their inclusion in the teaser for the new season will play out remains to be seen.

How Did 'Squid Game' Season 2 End?

After seemingly making progress in his mission to topple the powers that be behind the bloody games, Gi-hun ended Season 2 emotionally broken.

Following his failed rebellion against the system, his best friend, Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan), was shot dead by Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). Gi-hun has yet to learn that Front Man is actually Young-il, who posed as a fellow contestant and ally.

"The end of Season 2 is going to make people more curious about how Gi-hun will do in the game now that this traumatic event has happened to him," actor Lee told Netflix's Tudum. "After what's happened to his friend, can he still maintain his objective of saving the other people in the game?"

Will Season 3 Be the Last 'Squid Game'?

Squid Game creator Hwang, who also serves as the series' director, writer, and executive producer confirmed that the third season of the show will be the last.

"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 wrote in a letter to fans. "The fierce clash between [Gi-hun and Front Man's] two worlds will continue into the series finale with Season 3, which will be brought to you next year."

What Will Happen in Season 3?

Aside from the teaser and hints that have been shared, Hwang said in his recent interview with Variety that Season 3 will continue to follow the lead character's journey.

"[As] for the storyline of the third season, Gi-hun having lost everything, including his best friend, and all of his attempts going to failure, it's now, what is he going to be like? What state is Gi-hun going to be in? And what will he choose to do?" he said.

"Will he continue on with the mission? Is he going to give up or persist? And so you're going to meet our character Gi-hun at a very critical crossroads as we begin the third season. Gi-hun will not be the man he was in Season 2."