When Netflix announced the latest casting for its upcoming Squid Game season 2, I was thrilled to see one particular actor among the incredible stars returning to the deadly games’ arena. Season 1 of the Korean series was a surprise hit for Netflix in 2021, making a follow-up almost inevitable. Squid Game season 2 will return to Netflix in December, and as season 1 of the survival drama introduced the world to some of Korea’s top talents, season 2 looks set to showcase a whole lot more.

Although K-drama is proving increasingly popular, particularly on streaming services like Netflix, Squid Game‘s success is unparalleled. The show became the first K-drama to top the streaming giant’s weekly most-watched TV show global chart, sparking wider interest in the genre and creating a clamor for a sophomore season. As a result, any news about Squid Game season 2 has been highly anticipated by the fanbase. However, for me, one particular announcement ranks as the most interesting development ahead of the show’s release.

I Can’t Wait To See Park Gyu-young In Squid Game 2 After Sweet Home & Celebrity

The Actress Has Demonstrated Her Talent In Wide-Ranging Genres And Roles

Gyu-young is a rising star in K-dramas who already shows great promise. While her resume isn’t huge, the work she’s already accomplished is impressive. In Sweet Home, she forged a fascinating character arc for Ji-su throughout season 1, giving the role a nuanced depth that grounded the fantastical storylines. Even her action scenes are layered, as she embodies both the strength of the independent woman she’d been before the apocalyptic event and the vulnerability of an average person thrust into a chaotic world and trying to survive.

Although the Korean actress has proven to be a formidable action star, as seen from Sweet Home, Gyu-young has also taken on other diverse roles that highlight her range. I loved her comedic supporting role as the superficial and spoiled Oh Ji-yool in the 2019 romantic series Romance Is a Bonus Book. But the actress was able to really demonstrate her range in the 2023 thriller Celebrity. The Netflix K-drama sees Gyu-young as an up-and-coming social media influencer who gets sucked into a world of celebrity and fame that turns out to be deadly.

Given Gyu-young can take on such diverse roles and brings a humility and charm to her characters, I can’t wait to see what she’ll bring to her Squid Game season 2 role. Her versatility as an actress has made her a standout in every role she takes on to date. She’s shown she can fight, but can also deliver powerful and nuanced performances, and can even bring a comedic element, so I’m hoping to see this range in the next season of Squid Game.

Sweet Home Killing Of Ji-su Makes Me Even More Hyped About Park Gyu-young’s Squid Game Role

Ji-su Deserved More, But It’s A Good Sign For Squid Game

Sweet Home is back on Netflix for season 3, but it’s going to be without Gyu-young’s Yoon Ji-su. Gyu-young’s portrayal of the multi-faceted bass-playing monster slayer in season 1 was by far one of my favorites, so when Sweet Home killed off Ji-su early in season 2, I was heartbroken. The horror K-drama gave Gyu-young’s character a heroic send-off, but it was disappointing for her to die so early on. I really wanted to see more from Ji-su, but her death was another reminder of the cruel, unforgiving nature of the apocalyptic Sweet Home world.

However, Sweet Home showed how Gyu-young can adapt to high-energy and physically demanding roles. Killing Ji-su off in season 2 was tragic, but it’s shown that for all the intense action scenes, she can also bring empathy and heart to her characters. This is what made me and many other viewers fall in love with Squid Game in the first place, so Gyu-young is a perfect fit for the series.

Squid Game Season 2 Has Put Together A Great Cast

Some Squid Game Favorites Are Returning And Perhaps Even Some Surprises Are In Store

Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk and the production team have assembled an incredible cast for Squid Game season 2, with the new season bringing some of the most talented K-drama stars to the games’ arena. Other than Park Gyu-young, season 2 will feature Park Sung-hoon (Queen of Tears, The Glory), Yang Dong-geun (Moving), Jeon Seok-ho (Kingdom), Lee Jon-wook (Sweet Home), and K-pop megastar, T.O.P a.k.a Choi Seung-hyun.

Some Squid Game season 1 favorites will also be reprising their roles. The returning cast includes Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun, the latest winner of the game, Lee Byung-hun as Hwang In-ho, the Front Man and overseer of the game, and Wi Ha-joon as Hwang Jun-ho, the police officer who sneaks into the arena to search for his missing brother. While Gong Yoo’s captivating portrayal of the enigmatic Salesman was only minor in Squid Game season 1, he will also be among those returning, with Hwang hinting that the character may have a much bigger role in the upcoming season.

Hwang has also suggested that he’d like to bring back some of the dead characters from Squid Game season 1. In a press conference (via Reuters), the series writer and creator stated that “I want to revive Ji-young, but her best friend Sae-byeok also died, so I’m thinking what to do.” This suggests there may still be some surprises in store when the K-drama returns in December. Gyu-young will be a fantastic addition to the Squid Game season 2 cast, bolstering what already promises to be a thrilling story.

Source: Reuters