SPOILER ALERT:This interview contains details of Season 2 ofNetflixsSquid Game.
A new series of sinister games are afoot.
However, instead of enjoying his millions, he has nothing but trauma to show for it.
Squid Game S2 Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun in Squid Game S2No Ju-han/Netflix
HWANG DONG-HYUK:Not necessarily.
It is his way of showing his willpower to the Front Man.
It might seem like hes talking about himself, but not quite at that point.
Lee Byung-hun as The Front Man inSquid GameSeason 2No Ju-han/Netflix
DEADLINE: Your character is in the spotlight this season.
Talk about your initial reaction to receiving the script.
Because I have to act as Front Man, but Im also evil.
Then, sometimes, he talks about his past truthfully when living as In-ho.
Then, after he goes into the game, he takes on this fake identity of Oh Young-il.
But most importantly, my heart was fluttering to take on this character.
DEADLINE: I love the six-legged relay race episode.
What do you remember about that day between you and Lee Jung-jae?
I talked to Director Hwang about it, and we agreed.
Thats how I attempt to portray my character in those scenes.
I enjoyed that part too.
HWANG:He practiced with his left hand because hes supposed to be left-handed in the game.
BYUNG-HUN:Im an expert now [laughs].
DEADLINE: Which game are you all better at in real life?
BYUNG-HUN:I got the spin top and practiced so much that I almost rig any game.
If you want me to fail, I can fail.
I can even use my right hand.
I was so good at it [laughs].
HWANG:[turns to Lee Jung-jae] you practiced so many times.
Do you play Jegichagi?
LEE JUNG-JAE:Its been so long since Ive played Jegi.
DEADLINE: Director Hwang, do you test these games before bringing them to the actors?
Or do you suffer along with them on set as they play?
HWANG:Of course.
I always rehearse myself to see how happy [the challenge] is.
Im good at the spin top, but I am not good at Jegichagi.
I was worried about him playing well on set, but he did such a great job.
JJ was good at Jegi, but the timing is really important and hard to do.
None of the actors got it right, but JJ got the jegi afloat in the frame.
Whats the backstory behind him?
Theres that lie and truth element both playing in that scene.
I also loved watching Byung-hun doing a great performance there.
Stay tuned and check it out [laugh].
DEADLINE: The last episode in the season is called Friend or Foe.
How did both of you process your characters journeys by the end of this season?
I think viewers will also be on this roller coaster of changing emotions.
As Gi-huns emotions change, I hope viewers feelings will also follow that change and those twists and turns.
Its really about conveying the message that we want to get across.
The two peoples goals are very clear, but Front Man still stays by his side.
He wants to see what he does and also sometimes tests Gi-hun to some extent.
At the end, I think about how Gi-hun always sees that there is still hope in humanity.
DEADLINE: In having these two play this nuanced balance of good and evil.
What did you admire this time in their work for this season?
HWANG:I enjoyed every moment of working with these two on the set.
Every moment of working together with them on set was a joy.
These two characters and these two actors evolved throughout the season.
For the episode, Friends or Foe, I loved the rebellion scene.
I guess it was the moment when they met in the gray area.
Gi-hun always wanted to do something good.
I love that change in character, and I think In-ho probably saw his older self in him.
That might be something that he also thought to himself in the past.
Because they share that same emotion, thats why they are in this rebellion together.
Watching them perform this scene was fascinating for me as a director.
It was just so interesting.
I loved working with them.
I loved how theyre portraying the changes in their characters, but this is not the end.
In Season 3, the two people go through another evolution.
Its going to be even more interesting.
Theres going to be head-spinning surprises.
So, once again, stay tuned [laughs].
JUNG-JAE:For me, I would have to say the Red Light, Green Light scene.
I knew it had to be really good because its such a symbolic game.
I felt a lot of pressure while filming, but it turned out great later.
When Im killing the contestant, Im looking Jung-bae in the eye while Im killing him.
I worked hard on writing the script and filming the scene.
After I saw it at the premiere, I had this long sigh of relief because I liked it.
