Hwang Dong Hyuk faces backlash over Squid Game 3 finale featuring Cate Blanchett
The final episode of Squid Game 3 dropped heavy controversy. The ending, which included Hollywood star Cate Blanchett as a recruiter, sparked major fan outrage.
Viewers slammed the inclusion of Blanchett, accusing the show of undermining its core anti-capitalism message by teasing a rumored Squid Games USA spin-off. Fans flooded Twitter, calling out Netflix for promoting an American version instead of delivering a proper ending.
Many pointed out the irony of a show that started as a critique of capitalism turning into what they see as a cash grab.
The director, Hwang Dong Hyuk, responded directly to the rumors:
“It’s completely unfounded. It seems to be based on rumors. I haven’t heard anything about it officially—just what I’ve read in articles. I don’t know how much of it, if any, is true—whether it’s supposedly filming in December, that I’m directing it, that Cate Blanchett is in it, that David Fincher is directing… none of it has any basis in fact.”
— Hwang Dong Hyuk
Hwang revealed the original plan had the main character Seong Gi Hun (Lee Jung Jae) surviving to encounter Blanchett and another recruiter in the US. Ultimately, the final cut wasn’t meant to tease a US version. Instead, it shows the game system’s persistence despite one person’s efforts to end it.
The backlash continues as Squid Game 3 faces scathing reviews from the press. The season’s conclusion remains a hot topic online.
Fans remain divided on whether the controversial ending ruins the legacy of the hit series.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Squid Game saga.
