Squid Game creator’s next project set to be ‘controversial, more violent’

The writer-director spoke to JOE about the film that he has wanted to make for several years.

In 2022 - as reported in Variety - the series' creator, director and writer Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed that he had written a 25-page treatment for a new movie with the working title K.O. Club, which is short for 'Killing Old People Club'.

The film was said to be inspired by 'Pape Satàn Aleppe: Chronicles of a Liquid Society', a book by the legendary Italian philosopher Umberto Eco (In the Name of the Rose).

At the time, the writer-director said the project would be "another controversial film", adding that: "It will be more violent than Squid Game."

JOE recently spoke to Director Hwang about Squid Game Season 3. You can read a spoiler-free version of that interview right here.

Towards the end of our conversation, JOE said that we hoped that the filmmaker would get to bring K.O. Club to screens, before asking if that was still his plan.

In response, he laughed and told us: "I think that's going to be my next project."

You can also read about Director Hwang's idea for a Squid Game prequel in this spoiler-filled article here.

One imagines that the Squid Game creator would want a break from the series' world, having worked on the show for several years, writing and directing each episode throughout its three seasons.

In fact, Director Hwang has publicly said that he was so stressed during the making of the first season that he lost several teeth.

As such, JOE asked him why he didn't work with a team of writers and directors on seasons 2 and 3, instead choosing to do it all by himself again.

In response, he said:

"I've just never worked with a team before. I have written and directed all of my films. So, I'm just not used to working in a team.

"Also it wasn't easy to find a writer or director that I could completely trust with this work.

"It was inevitable that I did everything in seasons 2 and 3, and also, that was what Netflix wanted me to do as well.

"I just feel more at ease when I am the one doing everything."

That said, he did note that Netflix provided him with some additional help, adding: "Compared to season 1, I did have the help of one or two assistants.

"They would help me with maybe some questions I had or help me with my research."

All three seasons of Squid Game are streaming on Netflix now.