Squid Game Suffered 10-Year Constant Rejection Before Huge Success, Making Netflix History

Squid Game is a big hit, and it has continued to dominate Netflix globally. However, before it enjoyed its massive success, it endured 10-year constant rejection.

Yes, Squid Game almost didn't make it into the small screen. Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator and director of the hit TV series, shared the roadblocks he endured to bring the story to Netflix.

Squid Game Got Constantly Rejected For Being Unrealistic

Credit: Netflix

In an interview, the director shared that he thought of Squid Game as early as 2008. He completed the plot after a year. However, no one was willing to pick it up because it was too unrealistic.

"The show's scenario was completed in 2009, but at this time, there was too much social and cultural unfamiliarity with this kind of production. Because of this, we heard that the scenario was unrealistic many times," he was quoted by Koreaboo as saying.

After facing constant rejection from several networks and companies for a decade, OTT (over-the-top) media platform services like Netflix blossomed and it's where the project was given the green light.

"I felt that the timing was premature after getting rejected by every investor. 10 years later, however, OTTs appeared and the gap between the rich and the poor started to become even greater," Hwang added. "The idea of succeeding with fast money also became more idealized. The combination of both and the synergy that was created between the two is what made this production come to life."

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Squid Game Makes History, Proves To Be A Success

Credit: Netflix

Squid Game is a smash hit topping the global rankings on Netflix for a week already. It makes history by becoming the first Korean drama TV series to bag the no. 1 spot in the U.S. on the streaming platform. It also topped in Bangladesh, India, Italy, Russia, South Africa, and Sri Lanka.

According to Hwang, the response toward his 9-episode series that revolves around the participants' high-stake survival from deadly Korean children games was different this time compared to a decade ago. He is convinced that today is the best time for Squid Game and he is right.

"I realized that we are living in a time where those games are actually happening around us and have become relevant to our world," he was quoted by Resonate as saying. "So when I showed the piece around, people told me that it was very interesting and realistic, which made me think now was the perfect time for this series."

There is no doubt that Hwang and the Squid Game gang deserve its success. Netflix has not renewed the show yet, but we will keep you posted once it gets the green light.

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