'Squid Game' returns looking for win with season 2

Stepping onto the set of “Squid Game” season two, Lee Jong-jae felt like he had never left.

“Including promotion, I'd been living with Gi-hun for about two years," said Lee in a recent interview. “I really felt like I was him," he said in a recent interview.

“Squid Game” follows an underground competition in Korea that recruits people in debt to participate in childlike games for money. Once the games begin, the contestants realize there are deadly consequences.

The show was a global hit when it was released in 2021, becoming Netflix's most-watched series. It also won numerous accolades including Primetime Emmy Awards for acting for Lee Jung-jae and directing for Hwang Dong-hyuk. Lee's career catapulted, taking him to the Cannes Film Festival and giving him his first English-language role in the “Star Wars” series “The Acolyte” for Disney+.

Lee says when Netflix ordered a second season of “Squid Game,” he questioned the timeline because it took Hwang years to work on the first one. "I wondered, ‘How many years will it take him to write season two,’" said Lee. Hwang, in turn, surprised everyone — including himself — by taking just six months to write season two and a third and final season. “I'm not sure I'll ever be able to write something that fast again,” he said.

Creating new characters and their individual stories came easily. The biggest, challenge, Hwang said, was deciding what should happen with Gi-hun. Lee says when he read the scripts he thought Hwang “really is a genius.”

It's rare for even successful TV shows in Korea to have more than one season so it was a big swing, even for the new cast.

“There’s a Korean phrase, ‘there’s not a sequel that does better than its prequel,’ said actor Yang Dong-geong, whose character debuts in season two. "I've been careful because we aren't really sure what the reaction will be.” The outlook is positive. Season two has already been nominated in the best drama series category at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards.

The opportunity to work on a project with worldwide appeal is a dream come true for a performer. Lee Byung-hun, who reprises his villain role from season one, has appeared in big budget English-language films like “G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra” with Channing Tatum and Dennis Quaid and “Red 2” with Bruce Willis. It's “Squid Game” that he credits for taking his career to another level.

“I’ve been an actor for over three decades and ... maybe most people outside of Korea have never seen anything that I’ve been in. If anyone through ‘Squid Game’ wishes to see more of me or becomes more curious about my previous works, as an actor, nothing would be more rewarding or bring me greater joy."

The audition process moved slowly. Jo Yu-ri recalls waiting two months between the first and second-round. When she finally got the part Jo says, “I actually remember crying.” The actors were asked to not speak publicly about their casting to wait for Netflix to make an announcement. “There were a couple of close friends that popped champagne for me when they found out," said Yang.

Netflix's “Squid Game” universe is also growing. A second season of a reality competition show based on the series has been ordered and an English version is in development. Season three of the original has also completed filming and is in post-production.

Season two is not without controversy. The new episodes feature a transgender character played by Park Sung-hoon. Hwang says he understands why hiring a trans actor would have been ideal, but that the casting is a reflection of how the LGBTQ community and gender identity is viewed in Korea.

“To be honest with you, in Korea, when it comes to the LGBTQ and gender minority community and culture compared to the Western worlds, it’s not as widely socially accepted yet. Unfortunately, a lot of the groups are marginalized and neglected from society, which is heartbreaking," said Hwang.

“We don’t have a very large pool of actors that allow for authentic casting when it comes to transgender characters. We did our research. We tried to find someone who we thought could be the best fit. However, we weren’t able to.” Hwang also went on to say that Park's talent and approach to the character ended up making him “the perfect fit.”

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Leslie Ambriz in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Lee Seo-hwan poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Lee Byung-hun poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Kang Ae-sim poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Im Si-wan poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Lee Byung-hun poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Lee Seo-hwan poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Jo Yu-ri poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Jo Yu-ri poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Lee Byung-hun poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Hwang Dong-hyuk poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Lee Jung-jae poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Lee Byung-hun poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Im Si-wan poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Yang Dong-geun poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Kang Ae-sim poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Lee Byung-hun, from left, Yang Dong-geun, Hwang Dong-hyuk, Jo Yu-ri, Im Si-wan, Kang Ae-sim, Lee Seo-hwan and Lee Jung-jae pose for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Lee Jung-jae poses for a portrait to promote the second season of "Squid Game" on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Jo Yu-ri, from left, Lee Byung-hun, Lee Seo-hwan, Hwang Dong-hyuk, Im Si-wan, Lee Jung-jae, Yang Dong-geun, and Kang Ae-sim arrive at the premiere of the second season of "Squid Game" on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, at Los Angeles City College in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Actor Lee Byung-hun poses during a photo call for Netflix's "Squid Game" season two at Metrograph on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Actor Lee Jung-jae poses during a photo call for Netflix's "Squid Game" season two at Metrograph on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Lee Byung-hun, left, Hwang Dong-kyuk and Lee Jung-jae pose together during a photo call for Netflix's "Squid Game" season two at Metrograph on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

This image released by Netflix shows Lee Jung-jae in a scene from "Squid Game." (No Ju-han/Netflix via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — J.T. Miller scored his second goal of the game on a power play at 2:56 of overtime as the New York Rangers rallied to beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 on Saturday night.

Will Cuylle, Noah Laba and Artemi Panarin also scored to help the Rangers snap a three-game skid (0-1-2). Mathew Robertson and Conor Sheary each had two assists, and Igor Shesterkin had 12 saves.

Zach Bolduc, Arber Xhekaj, Jake Evans and Josh Anderson scored for Montreal in its third loss in four games (1-2-1). Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson each had two assists, and Jacob Fowler had 21 saves.

In the extra period, Miller beat Fowler for his ninth goal to give the Rangers the win after they trailed 3-0 and 4-2.

The teams combined for eight goals in the opening 28 minutes, then none until overtime.

Cuylle and Miller scored in a 36-second span early in the second period to tie the score 4-4. Cuylle got his ninth at 7:22 and Miller tied it at 7:58.

Bolduc opened the scoring with 7:19 left in the first period with his seventh. Xhekej made it 2-0 with his first wit 5:50 left in the period, and Evans made it a three-goal lead 2:08 later with his fifth.

Laba then beat Fowler on the power play with 1:11 left in the opening period to get the Rangers on the board.

Panarin scored on a penalty shot 19 seconds to make it 3-2.

Anderson restored the two-goal margin at 3:17 of the second, whipping a one-timer past Shesterkin.

The Rangers honored players from the 1970s and 80s. Attendees included Hall of Fame defenseman Brad Park, Swedish stars Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson plus family members of Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle and Vic Hadfield. Herb Brooks, the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Olympic coach who coached the Rangers from 1981-85, was represented by his son Dan.

Canadiens: Host Edmonton on Sunday night.

Rangers: Host Anaheim on Monday night.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Montréal Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovský (20) looks to pass the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Montréal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler (32) skates off the ice while the New York Rangers celebrate an overtime goal by J.T. Miller during an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

The New York Rangers celebrate their win in overtime during an NHL hockey game against the Montréal Canadiens, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

The New York Rangers celebrate an overtime goal by J.T. Miller (8) during an NHL hockey game against the Montréal Canadiens, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)