Dramatic final showdown: Lee Byung-hun says Squid Game 3 will be 'intense'

The ending of Squid Game season two had many on the edge of their seats, and the suspense will continue in the upcoming season.

AsiaOne attended the press conference for Squid Game season three today (June 9), where director Hwang Dong-hyuk and the star-studded cast talked about what viewers can expect in this new season.

The survival thriller K-drama follows Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), who competes in deadly children's games against other cash-strapped contestants to win a fortune.

The second season is set three years after Gi-hun wins the game. He joins it again in an attempt to start a rebellion and stop the bad guys once and for all.

Spoilers ahead.

However, he fails, and the last episode ends on a harrowing note, as the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) kills one of Gi-hun's best friends.

But the real climax is in season three, said Byung-hun, who turns 55 next month.

"It's going to be extremely dramatic and intense, and where the actual conflict and showdown between the two characters happens," he teased.

One of the popular characters from season two was Cho Hyun-ju, a transgender woman played by Park Sung-hoon. He was asked what viewers can expect from her this season.

"Hyun-ju is extremely selfless and righteous, and those are some things that will never change. In the game, she formed friendships and stood in solidarity with a lot of other players. So, I think you're going to get to see an even stronger, even cooler side of her," said the 40-year-old.

Will there be a fourth season?

According to Dong-hyuk, seasons two and three were written and produced back-to-back.

"I know that season two ended at a point where you didn't see the full development of each character arc, so I think a lot of that is going to be resolved once you watch season three," the 54-year-old added.

He hopes viewers will feel season three does Squid Game justice, and that brings up the question: Is this really the final season?

"I don't have plans for season four. That's something that Netflix and I mutually agreed on when we were creating season three. I think that once you see season three, you might feel like it doesn't need another season," said Dong-hyuk.

But he's not opposed to returning to the world of Squid Game: "If opportunity allows, I am thinking of maybe I could do a spin-off in the Squid Game universe. Because sometimes, as I created and wrote the story, I get curious myself.

"What have these characters been up to during these years? I want to explore that, so I do have an idea of doing a spin-off. I feel like Netflix is getting busy. Maybe a spin off, maybe a prequel."

Squid Game season three, which also stars Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Wi Ha-jun, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk and more, premieres June 27 on Netflix.

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