Squid Game is on course to land Netflix’s most-streamed series ever, after becoming an instant hit with viewers worldwide.
However, director Hwang Dong-hyuk has revealed he initially struggled to find funding for the show after writing it in 2008.
The series creator started working on the script over 10 years ago and had the first draft ready a year later, but it took Netflix a decade to finally give the series a chance.
Speaking to The Korea Times he said: “After about 12 years, the world has changed into a place where such peculiar, violent survival stories are actually welcomed.”
Netflix took an interest in Hwang’s project in 2019, and in that same year, the project was given the green light.
Originally, the show was titled Round Six, but it’s safe to say Squid Game is a better fit.
The high-stakes show, which has taken the world by storm, is about 456 people who play series of children’s games with life-threatening consequences for the chance to win 45.6 billion won.
The Korean-language thriller has become one of the most popular releases on Netflix, following its September 17 premiere, and is the first-ever Korean series to land at number one on the platform.
It was recently reported that a broadband provider in South Korea was suing the streaming platform, due to the hit show causing a traffic surge.
In a statement to CNBC, a Netflix spokesperson said: “We will review the claim that SK Broadband has filed against us. In the meantime, we continue to seek open dialogue and explore ways of working with SK Broadband in order to ensure a seamless streaming experience for our shared customers.”