David Fincher's English-Language Squid Game Spinoff Reportedly Shelved by Netflix
David Fincher's English-language continuation of Squid Game is no longer moving forward, according to The Playlist, which cited sources close to Netflix. The project was never officially announced by Netflix but had been widely reported since 2023, with a script from Dennis Kelly (Utopia) and a working title of Heckler. The outlet reports the shelving stems from Netflix reassessing the overall direction of its flagship franchise.
What We Know About the Shelved Project
- Director: David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac)
- Writer: Dennis Kelly (Utopia)
- Working title: Heckler
- Status: reported as shelved by sources speaking to The Playlist; never officially confirmed by Netflix
The report also notes Netflix still intends to expand the Squid Game franchise through localized versions in different markets, though no details on those plans have been confirmed.
Why Fans Suspected an English Spinoff Was Coming
Speculation around an English-language entry grew after Korean-original Season 3 ended last year with the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) traveling to Los Angeles, where a new recruiter played by Cate Blanchett appears. Blanchett previously worked with Fincher on 2008's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; she has said she'd be very open to returning to Squid Game, but was not aware of any Fincher-directed project.
Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk said in 2024 that letting creators from other countries make their own version — as part of a broader Squid Game universe — would be an honor, referencing the possibility of Fincher directing a U.S. take. NME gave Season 3 four stars, noting the finale's high-profile cameo signaled the franchise's ambitions extend well beyond South Korea.
What's Next for Fincher
Fincher's next feature is The Adventures of Cliff Booth, with Brad Pitt reprising his Oscar-winning role from Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The film opens in theaters November 25 and arrives on Netflix December 23.