Netflix Conducting ‘Squid Game’ Themed Reality Show

A $4.56 million cash prize will be up for grabs.

A $4.56 million cash prize will be up for grabs.

2021’s Squid Game was one of Netflix’s biggest successes to date, becoming an overnight international hit. The show’s story of impoverished people locked into a life-or-death game for a massive cash prize struck a chord with audiences thanks to its likeable characters, engaging mystery, and occasionally shocking moments. Netflix has leveraged this success in a handful of ways, mostly merchandising, but soon they’ll be taking it one step further.

Netflix has officially announced Squid Game: The Challenge, a reality game show where 456 contestants will compete with one another in a series of playground games inspired by the show. These contestants will be competing for a cash prize of $4.56 million, which Netflix is boasting as being the largest cash prize in the history of television, including both reality and game shows.

Despite the brutal nature of the source material, Netflix has assured that none of the contestants will be in any real danger. “The stakes are high, but in this game the worst fate is going home empty-handed,” the company said in a statement.

Filming is scheduled to begin soon in the UK, where proceedings will be handled by production firms Studio Lambert and The Garden. The show is planned to have 10 episodes, though a precise premiere date has not divulged. Anyone interested in being a contestant can apply on the show’s official website, with the only requirements being adult age and fluency in English.