Latest news with #SquidGame2
Mint
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Squid Game actor Lee Byung-hun reveals how his son called him out for being 'bad' in the show: 'Why are you so mean?'
On The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Squid Game star Lee Byung-hun had the audience in stitches as he shared how his ten-year-old son reacted to finding out his dad plays the terrifying Frontman in the hit Netflix series. 'They're not supposed to watch Squid Game,' Byung-hun said with a grin. 'I have a ten-year-old son and an 18-month-old daughter. I think my son heard from a friend at school. One day, he looked really sad and asked me, 'Why are you so mean?'' Completely confused, Byung-hun replied, 'What?' Jimmy Fallon burst into laughter, jumping in to act out the moment: 'You know I'm an actor. I love you. I'm a good dad!' Byung-hun continued, 'I said, 'Why?' and he said, 'You killed a lot of people.'' It turns out, his son was especially upset about a scene involving T.O.P, the actor who played Thanos in 'Squid Game 2'. 'My son was very close to him,' Byung-hun explained. 'He asked me, 'Why did you hit him so bad, Dad?'' Trying to explain, Byung-hun told his son, 'I'm an actor,' but admitted, 'I think he doesn't understand 100 per cent.' Jimmy nodded and laughed, 'No, good for him. He should be a 10-year-old!' The laughs kept coming as Byung-hun shared a hilarious memory from when his son was just three years old. He had shown him a clip from GI Joe on YouTube, where Byung-hun plays a mysterious and deadly character. His son stared wide-eyed and asked, 'Are you really…?' To which Byung-hun whispered, 'Shhh, no one knows. Even your mom doesn't know.' The interrogation continued as the curious toddler asked, 'Where is the weapon?' Keeping the story alive, Byung-hun replied, 'It's in America, in some storage.' Not satisfied, his son asked, 'Why didn't you bring it back?' With perfect comic timing, Byung-hun answered, 'If I see some strong enemy, I'll bring it back.' The audience erupted in laughter, clearly loving the actor's playful parenting. For the unversed, Lee Byung-hun played the role of Storm Shadow in the 2013 film 'GI Joe: Retaliation'.
Pink Villa
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Gong Yoo flaunts Son Heung Min-signed Tottenham jersey, medal and heartfelt friendship: 'I'll always have your back...'
Gong Yoo X Son Heung Min was not on our 2025 bingo cards, right? Well, here it is! The duo is proof that friendships can cross occupational boundaries. The renowned soccer player showcased his close bond and respect for the talented actor through a heartfelt message. Although Gong Yoo couldn't witness Son Heung Min lifting the 2025 UEFA Cup from the stands, his support from afar meant a lot to him. Son Heung Min gifts Tottenham jersey to Gong Yoo The Tottenham Hotspur captain gifted the actor a signed jersey of his along with a sweet message showcasing his appreciation for his brother-like friend, Gong Yoo. The jersey also included a handwritten sweet message, which included Son Heung Min addressing the Squid Game 2 star as "Hyungnim"– a Korean term for older brother. The special message read, "Even though you couldn't be at the [final] match, your support helped me achieve this incredible victory. I'm truly grateful." He further mentioned, "I'll never forget your sincere advice and support by my side. I'll always have your back, no matter what happens. Love you! – Ggomm." Gong Yoo proudly flaunted the gift on his Instagram, along with some other heartwarming photos. Gong Yoo showed love for Song Heung Min's special gift Besides the jersey, the actor also shared photos of himself wearing Son Heung Min's winning medal, captioning the June 19 post as "Respect." Both of them donned matching slippers and flashed happy smiles. One particular picture was the fan favourite, in which the footballer was seen putting his hand on Gong Yoo's shoulder as he leaned towards him. Fans in the comments gushed at the unexpected encounter and at how cute the duo looked together. Son Heung Min also shared the same picture, captioning it as "Ggomm Respect." This might indicate that the duo shares the same nickname, as he wrote "– Ggomm" on the signed jersey as well. Notably, the player also affectionately mentioned Gong Yoo as Ggomm during his guest appearance on the variety show Salon Drip 2. On the work front, Gong Yoo is currently filming for Show Business with Song Hye Kyo, and Son Heung Min is enjoying a break after completing Korea's third-round qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
UPI
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Watch: Lee Byung-hyun kept 'Squid Game' casting secret from his mom
1 of 3 | Lee Byung-hun attends Netflix's Korean dystopian survival thriller "Squid Game 2" FYSEE LA Fest on May 30. He discussed the show on "Tonight" Tuesday. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo June 18 (UPI) -- Lee Byung-hyun says he didn't tell anyone, not even his mother, that he had been cast in Netflix's Korean drama series Squid Game. The actor, 54, plays Hwang In-ho, aka the Front Man, on the show, which follows various contestants in a life-or-death game. He discussed the experience on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday. "Netflix asked me to keep it as a secret, so I didn't say it to anybody -- even my close friends and mom," he shared. "So one day, after Squid Game opened, my mom called me and she yelled at me: 'How could you not tell me that?'" The streamer announced a third and final season of the series, but Byung-hyun wasn't quick to share any details. He did say more players will learn the Front Man's identity in the upcoming season, and that there could ultimately a spinoff for his character. "I'm not sure about that," he added. "But there's a possibility and we'll never know what happens." The actor said he was surprised by how well the show was received. "When I first read the script -- it was a very, very interesting story with a very unique structure, but at the same time it was too experimental. So I thought either it's going to be a huge hit or a complete flop," he said. Season 3 arrives on Netflix June 27. A previously-released teaser shows contestants will be participating in a new game.
Miami Herald
05-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Netflix has a genius plan to find its next big hit show
Although the space where it innovated has filled up with a slate of competitors, Netflix (NFLX) remains on the top of the heap when it comes to success. In 2024, Netflix ranked as the fastest-growing streaming service of the year, scoring twice as many customers as the next fastest-growing steaming service, Peacock. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter During its first-quarter earnings call, Netflix reported a 12.5% increase in revenue over the prior year, making it clear that its strategy is working - and that being first in the streaming space is far from the company's only advantage. Related: Netflix is making a change longtime users won't like In its quarterly shareholder letter, Netflix attributed the revenue spike to membership growth and higher pricing, saying, "Revenue was modestly above our guidance due to slightly higher-than-forecasted subscription and ad revenue (which is still very small relative to subscription revenue)." The streaming company announced in March 2025 that several of its plans would go up by $2-$3 a month. It last changed prices in January 2022. Netflix has also poured resources into new ways to market and create excitement around its shows and films. Tudum, Netflix's live event held on May 31 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, celebrated its fourth year, included live performances of songs from hits like "Squid Game 2" and big trailer debuts like Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" and Japanese manga classic "One Piece." Now Netflix is planning its next big move in terms of content - and it's both unexpected and genius. When Netflix made the decision to start featuring Korean drama, known by fans as K-drama, back in 2016, it tapped into a market that at the time, no other major streaming service had touched. Fans of Korean media typically turned to specialty services like Viki and Kocowa before Netflix got involved. But once it did, the streaming giant harnessed the power of the "hallyu" wave, which refers to the surging popularity of South Korean pop culture. The trend was powered heavily by Korean pop stars such as BTS and drew those same fans into the fray. Related: Netflix 'Squid Game' Valuation Pegged at $900 Million This bet exploded in 2021, when "Squid Game" became a worldwide phenomenon, leading Netflix to announce in April 2023 that it pledged to spend $2.5 billion over the next four years in South Korea. That spend is dedicated not only to acquiring media, but also to fostering its creation. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos said the streaming company would pay for training programs for Korean entertainers both in front of and behind the camera, as well as teaming up with local organizations to find new talent. While Netflix clearly saw the potential in the U.S. fandom around K-pop and K-drama, its next big move is more of a surprise. One of its newest hits, Thai drama "Mad Unicorn," has performed admirably since its release on May 29, ranking fourth in Netflix's top 20 for non-English shows, Variety reports. The new show also spent the weekend in Netflix's #1 slot in its home country of Thailand. "Inspired by the Thai business world, 'Mad Unicorn' is the story of a self-made entrepreneur and a David vs. Goliath showdown," says Senior Content Director Malobika Banerji. More entertainment: AMC announces generous offer to win back customersDisney, Nvidia join forces for a surprising collaborationRegal just made a clever move to get people back in theaters Netflix's timing is good here - Thailand has been in the public eye lately, since HBO's third season of "The White Lotus" drummed up new curiosity about the southeast Asian country. But whereas Korean drama was findable with subtitles on small streaming sites before Netflix decided to invest in it, Thai dramas - which have a lot in common with other Asian dramas in terms of formula - are almost nowhere to be found. Thai drama also has an advantage many Asian dramas don't - a high level of friendliness toward LGBTQ+ content. Fans especially prize Thailand's GMMTV for its active slate of content that caters to both gay and lesbian romances alongside action, medical dramas, and more. And if Netflix finds its next big hit in Thailand, it may vault the country into the kind of stardom South Korea has enjoyed, thanks to hits like "Squid Game." Related: Analyst resets Netflix stock price target ahead of 'Squid Game 2' The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Squid Game' Season 3 Trailer: Lee Jung-jae Seeks to Destroy the Competition Once and For All
The highly-anticipated third season of 'Squid Game' has almost commenced — and the competition is more fierce than ever. Lee Jung-jae reprises his lead role for Season 3, which takes place three years after the events of the first 'Squid Game.' Now, Gi-hun (Lee) is determined to destroy the games for good and has spent his prize money only to support his cause. After Gi-hun convinced his fellow players to overpower the Squid Game guards during the Season 2 finale, Gi-hun is back confronting the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) as Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) looks for the island. More from IndieWire Sheryl Lee Ralph Remembers Sidney Poitier's Early Support: 'I Expect Great Things from You' 'Squid Game' Creator Teases Potential Spinoff: 'I Want to Show What They Did' Between Seasons 1 and 2 'Squid Game 2' premiered in December 2024 and debuted to 68 million views in its first week. Netflix announced at the time that it was a record for the streamer and beat out the previous one set by 'Wednesday' in 2022, which managed only 50.1 million views. 'Squid Game' Season 2 was seven episodes and ended on a cliffhanger. The season also introduced a new characters such as Dae-ho (Kang Ha-neul), Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon), Yong-sik (Yang Dong-geun), Geum-ja (Kang Ae-sim), Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri), and the games' guard No-eul (Park Gyu-young). Hwang Dong-hyuk is the creator and showrunner of 'Squid Game.' IndieWire's review for Season 2 cited how the continuation felt like 'the standard sequel to a Hollywood blockbuster' thanks in part to the 'bigger, bolder style that tends to come with extra resources.' Critic Ben Travers wrote, 'Season 2 is more like half-a-season, complete with a cliffhanger ending. For anyone satisfied with the first competition, the seven new episodes are still likely to provide enough visceral entertainment or vicarious thrills to merit a return trip. Season 2 continues to capitalize on a premise that's instinctively absorbing — who will win and who will lose, who will play with honor and who will debase themselves, who will we identify with and who will we vilify. The slightly trickier questions — the ones that last a little longer than the length of each game — are when and why: When does a character cross a line? Why do they cross it? And can we empathize with their justifications for doing so?' Season 3 will be the final season for 'Squid Game,' but the franchise could continue with David Fincher being rumored to direct an English-language spinoff for Netflix. 'Squid Game' Season 3 premieres June 27 on Netflix. Check out the trailer below. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
