“Squid Game” arrives in LA with a (literal) race for premiere tickets

Netflix isn’t holding back when it comes to the return of Squid gamethe streamer’s biggest show ever as it held an impressive premiere and fan event in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The Los Angeles City College athletic field has been transformed into a replica of the games, with the iconic “Red Light, Green Light” (with accompanying giant puppet), set-inspired photo ops, and a seemingly endless number of pink guards strolling the grounds. The biggest part of the evening, however, was a nearly 5K run in which hundreds of fans – dressed in the show’s green tracksuits – tried to win tickets to the evening’s premiere by correctly completing challenges along the route.

“I can’t believe I’m seeing this moment,” creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told the crowd as he looked out at the sea of ​​costumed guests. “Thank you for coming to the event and celebrating Squid game Season two together. You are my best Christmas present.” Star Lee Jung-jae added, “We are happy for you all to watch the second season and hope that many of you will watch it tonight.” We are happy for you to watch the second season Getting to know the players, some of whom are with us this evening. We can’t wait to hear what you think. Good luck from one player to another.”

The event also included a mini night market featuring Koreatown favorites and a nail painting station offering nail art inspired by the series. Before the games, Hwang and Lee walked with co-stars Lee Byung-hun, Yim Si-wan, Lee Seo-hwan, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Jo Yu-ri and executive producer Kim Ji-yeon over the carpet.

The Korean show, in which hundreds of cash-strapped contestants are watched as they accept an invitation to compete in high-stakes children’s games for a life-changing prize, with plenty of political commentary along the way, comes shortly after President Yoon Suk Yeol invaded South Korea in chaos.

“Coincidentally, the United States recently experienced its biggest election, and then we are also facing a national crisis in Korea with impeachment proceedings and the imposition of martial law,” Hwang said The Hollywood Reporter to release its new season at this moment. “If you watch the second season, the act of voting is addressed in a very important matter, so I invite you all to watch the season and compare the reality of the act of voting to that of our society and that within the show. I think if you hold a mirror up to society in that way, it will be a very meaningful and entertaining watch.”

And as for his future Squid gamewhich will end with its third season next year, the creator teased: “I will continue. I can’t stay stuck here Squid game world forever. Maybe I’ll come back for a spin-off, but not the next one, I’ll move on to the next one.” Don’t think he’s moving on to a happier project, though, because Hwang said with a laugh, “My next project will be more cruel, more violent, darker.”

Squid game Season two begins streaming on Netflix on December 26th.