David Fincher might be remaking Squid Game in English, but do we want him to?

As a movie enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the intricate worlds crafted by visionary directors like David Fincher, I can’t help but feel a mix of anticipation and skepticism upon hearing the rumors of an English-language remake of Squid Game.

David Fincher is the brain behind such iconic films as “Se7en,” “Fight Club,” and “Zodiac,” and has also played a significant role in creating popular series like “House of Cards.” In more recent times, he’s been collaborating extensively with Netflix, producing strong movies like “The Killer” and captivating shows such as “Mindhunter.” According to Deadline, his upcoming project could potentially be an English-language adaptation of the hit series “Squid Game.

In 2021, the debut of “Squid Game” was released on Netflix. Not only did it become a sensation, but it also broke records as Netflix’s most-watched series to date, leaving many people amazed. One might not have anticipated that a Korean drama centered around heavily indebted individuals fighting for survival at the entertainment of ruthless billionaires would gain such widespread popularity. It certainly makes one ponder…

Netflix has continued to cash in on the popularity of “Squid Game” with an unscripted reality series titled “Squid Game: The Challenge,” as well as the second season of the original show due out this December. However, a scripted English-language adaptation would mark the first offshoot for the series.

The deadline for the remake details is somewhat unclear, so it’s important to approach this news with a degree of skepticism. As The A.V. Club notes, David Fincher has a tendency to get involved in projects only to abandon them later. Examples include films like “The Devil in the White City,” “Cleopatra,” and “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” as well as TV shows such as “Videosyncrazy,” “Utopia,” and “Shakedown.” If he finds inspiration for a third season of “Mindhunter,” it would surely be delightful.

Squid Game doesn’t need an English-language remake

It remains uncertain if Fincher will indeed direct the English adaptation of “Squid Game.” While his work is undoubtedly excellent, it brings about a new query: is another version necessary?

Refashioning foreign-language blockbusters into English versions isn’t a novel idea; Fincher himself delved into this when he remade the Swedish thriller “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (it’s worth noting that he has considered making sequels to this, but as typical for Fincher, they’ve yet to materialize). Sometimes, these adaptations can bring lesser-known projects to a broader audience. However, Squid Game doesn’t require such assistance. In fact, we’re discussing a show that was viewed for an astonishing 1.65 billion hours within its first month of release. The love for Squid Game is already widespread and strong.

That’s not to say that an English-language version couldn’t be interesting, especially with Fincher at the helm, but it would feel like something Netflix does just to do it, rather than because there’s a compelling reason for it, and that sounds like a waste of Fincher’s time. Why bother when there are other projects that could use his attention? Hint hint Mindhunter season 3 hint hint.

Today, it appears that people worldwide are becoming more receptive towards foreign language films and television shows. For example, the film “Parasite” was the first non-English production to win the Best Picture award at the Oscars in 2019. Interestingly enough, a TV series adaptation of this movie is being considered for English-language broadcast, demonstrating that our fascination with foreign content hasn’t entirely waned yet.

Regardless, the second season of Squid Game is set to release on Netflix on December 26, 2024. It remains to be seen if it will also be available in an English version.

2024-10-29 18:41

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