Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who helmed the Netflix series "Squid Game," has hinted at the release date for Season 3. On December 26 (local time), the American media outlet Variety published an interview where Director Hwang discussed the highly anticipated Season 2 of "Squid Game."

First, Director Hwang revealed the existence of a teaser scene for Season 3. He said, "After the final episode of Season 2 ends and the end credits roll, you might find a hidden clip that provides a hint about Season 3."

When asked about the expected release date for the third season, Hwang stated, "We plan to announce the release date for Season 3 shortly after Season 2 premieres." He added, "It will likely be released next year (2025) in the summer or fall."

While he was cautious about revealing too much, saying, "Anything I say might become a spoiler," Hwang teased, "In the early part of Season 3, viewers will encounter Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) at a significant crossroads. He will be a different person compared to what you saw in Season 2."

Director Hwang concluded the interview by highlighting his favorite filming experience in Season 2: the "pentathlon game." He shared, "It was the most challenging to shoot, but I wanted to showcase actual childhood games that Koreans grew up playing. Since we could feature five games in a single round, I couldn't help but enjoy filming it."

Meanwhile, "Squid Game" Season 2 premiered on December 26 at 5 PM. International media outlets had mixed reviews, with some criticizing it for lacking the creativity and excitement of the first season, and for its storyline being heavily geared toward setting up a sequel. However, many also praised it for enhancing the artistic quality of the series, even though its entertainment factor may have diminished.