The premiere of the third and supposedly final season of Squid Game is just around the corner, set to debut on Netflix on June 27, 2025. While creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk has promised "an explosive finale," his words may not do it justice. The newly released set photos suggest something far more intense.
According to Netflix, the third season finds Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) in a vulnerable state, still reeling from the loss of his best friend in season two. He is emotionally shattered after being pushed to the edge by the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), "who was hiding his identity to infiltrate the game."
Gi-hun remains determined to bring down the architects behind the deadly game, while the Front Man stays committed to his own agenda. As in previous seasons, "players make decisions that put them in increasingly dangerous situations and face increasingly cruel mechanisms," Netflix teased.
Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, and Wi Ha-jun return as Gi-hun, the Front Man, and Detective Hwang Jun-ho, respectively. These are the only actors who have appeared since the first season.
Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Jo Yuri, Lee David, and Roh Jae-won, all survivors from season two, also return in this next chapter of the most successful K-drama in Netflix history.
Judging by the images released by the streaming platform, this season promises to be the most intense yet. It is packed with more weapons, more action, and even more shocking twists. It was filmed back-to-back with season two.
According to Hwang, Gi-hun's final moral conflict, following his failed rebellion at the end of season two, will finally expose the origin story of the Front Man and his connection to Jun-ho, the detective's brother.
The new season also brings back key elements, including the return of the robot Cheol-su (Young-hee's male counterpart), and even more brutal challenges. Among them: violent jump-rope games, hand-to-hand combat, and maze trials designed to test the rawest aspects of human survival.
Is this really the final season?
Last year, Hwang expressed exhaustion and even resentment toward the franchise. But his perspective seems to have shifted. He has since confirmed he's developing spin-offs focused on characters like the Front Man, the Recruiter, and the masked guards, to explore their backstories and motivations.
In fact, Hwang has hinted at a standalone project set between seasons one and two. Given the global success of the Squid Game universe, it would not be surprising if Netflix has already greenlit the idea.
For now, here are the most striking images from the upcoming season, and the hidden clues they may hold about what comes next.
