Squid Game gets even darker

When Squid Game premiered on Netflix in 2021, it became an unprecedented global sensation. The brutal yet brilliant South Korean satire, crafted by Hwang Dong-hyuk, explored class warfare through a Parasite-meets-Battle Royale concept, with deadly childhood games offering the lure of a life-changing cash prize. The show remains Netflix’s most-watched series to date. Now, as Lee Jung-jae’s Prisoner 456, Gi-hun, prepares to re-enter the deadly arena in Squid Game Season 2 on Boxing Day, one question looms large: How do you follow up the biggest show in Netflix history?

According to Hwang Dong-hyuk, crafting the sequel has been both a creative triumph and a gruelling challenge. Speaking to Empire magazine, Hwang admitted to feeling the immense pressure but believes he’s delivered something extraordinary. “Season 2 is a deeper, more advanced story,” he says, hinting it could surpass the first. However, the process took its toll. “Physically, mentally, it was not easy. Some sequences were the hardest of my career. It was... hell.”

The new season picks up where the first left off, with Gi-hun choosing not to board that plane. Hwang explains the show continues to reflect a worsening world: “Climate change, wars, more people dying. Our lives haven’t improved since 2021. Things are worse.” 

This darker reality informed the new season’s tone, which Hwang describes as even crueller and more terrifying. “I even wondered, ‘Is this too much for people to handle?’”

But fans are ready. With promises of heightened tension, scarier twists, and even more gruesome challenges, Squid Game Season 2 is poised to delve deeper into the despair of its dystopian universe. As Hwang says, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Let the games begin.

Wicked breaks box office record

Wicked: Part One has soared to a record-breaking $164 million global opening weekend. The film, which explores the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo) and her college roommate Galinda (Ariana Grande) from The Wizard of Oz, has left its competitors “green” with envy.

Wicked earned an impressive $114 million in the US alone and £13.7 million in the UK, setting a new record for the largest opening both globally and in the US for a Broadway show adaptation. It surpassed the previous record held by Les Misérables ($103 million worldwide in 2012) and Into the Woods ($31 million in the US in 2014). As well as that, the film now ranks among the top five openings for any movie musical, trailing only a handful of Disney live-action remakes and the phenomenon Frozen II.

Meanwhile, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II also made a triumphant debut, amassing $221 million worldwide during its opening weekend. The swords-and-sandals sequel continues the legacy of its Oscar-winning predecessor with a strong and honourable showing at the global box office.

Idris joins Masters of the Universe

Idris Elba is set to join Masters of the Universe, the upcoming live-action adaptation from Amazon MGM Studios, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Elba is in final talks to portray Duncan, aka Man-at-Arms, a key character in the iconic Mattel toy line. Directed by Travis Knight, the film stars Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, with Camila Mendes as Teela and Alison Brie as Evil Lyn. The movie is slated for a June 2026 release.

Launched in 1982, Mattel’s Masters of the Universe franchise began with a popular line of action figures, followed by the animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, which premiered in 1983. The franchise expanded into video games, comics, and other merchandise, maintaining its cultural significance for decades.

Elba, known for his versatile roles, will soon return as the voice of Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, arriving in inemas next month. He also stars in the spin-off series Knuckles on Paramount+. Upcoming projects include the Amazon MGM Studios action-comedy Heads of State alongside John Cena and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Elba’s notable credits include Luther, Hijack, Pacific Rim, Hobbs & Shaw, and Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.