Squid Game season 2 is set to debut on Netflix later this year, but the streamer’s perfect replacement show has been confirmed by the trailer for a new survival K-drama. Netflix took the world by storm when it released Squid Game back in 2021, and the streamer has since become one of the best places to watch new K-dramas. From Sweet Home to All of Us Are Dead, there is no shortage of great K-dramas available on the platform. And its lineup only seems to be getting larger.
New K-dramas are debuting all the time, and a survival series coming out in May 2024 could be the perfect Squid Game replacement. While the hit K-drama is still ongoing, there’s been a long wait for its sophomore season. In the interim, fans are looking for similar shows and movies to stream. And Netflix’s upcoming K-drama looks like it could be the next Squid Game, which is high praise for the show.
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Netflix’s The 8 Show Trailer Confirms It Can Be The Next Squid Game
It Has A Similar Setup To The Other K-Drama
The trailer for Netflix’s upcoming K-drama, The 8 Show, sets up a story that feels eerily similar to Squid Game — though its unclear if its narrative will be anywhere near as deadly. Per Netflix, The 8 Show will follow eight people who join “a tempting but dangerous show” where they’ll be able to win a large sum of money, and all they have to do is stay in an eight-story building and let time pass. The money accumulates as time goes by, and it seems easy enough to take home a prize.
However, the show’s original teaser (via YouTube) confirms that things will turn violent over the course of the game. And Netflix’s full-length trailer paints an eerie picture of The 8 Show, promising the players “a performance” that’s unlike anything they’ve “seen before.” There’s a sinister reality behind the competition, and that gives it a lot in common with Squid Game. The characters’ desperation to win money — which clearly leads them to violence — is also reminiscent of Netflix’s other hit K-drama. Watch the trailer for The 8 Show below:
Everything We Know About Netflix’s The 8 Show K-Drama
The Series Debuts On May 17, 2024
The 8 Show premieres on Netflix on May 17, and its thrilling premise promises to hook subscribers. Apart from what’s shown in the trailer, there’s not a ton of information available about the series’ plot. It could take darker turns than expected, but viewers will need to wait and see how The 8 Show plays out. Netflix describes the series as “offbeat” on its platform, so there’s no doubt it won’t be in line with viewer expectations. As of this writing, it’s not clear how many episodes subscribers can expect when it debuts.
Netflix has also confirmed the eight cast members who will star as The 8 Show‘s central characters. According to NME, the actors portraying The 8 Show‘s competitors are: Ryu Jun-yeol, Chun Won-hee, Park Jeong-min, Lee Yul-eum, Park Hae-joon, Lee Joo-young, Moon Jeong-hee, and Bae Sung-woo. All of these stars have established themselves in other projects, so they’ll bring experience and talent to the role. If The 8 Show blows up like Squid Game, it could bring them further fame. There’s no telling if it will actually get so big, though.
Will The 8 Show Be As Big As Squid Game For Netflix?
It’s Hard To Say If It Will Achieve The Same Viral Success
While The 8 Show is shaping up to be a great Squid Game replacement, it’s hard to say if the series will be as big as Netflix’s previous hit. Many K-dramas have debuted on the platform in the wake of Squid Game, but few have achieved the same level of viral success that the 2021 release managed. Squid Game‘s success came from multiple factors, including its impressive story and the fact that it debuted during the pandemic. It could be difficult for The 8 Show to capture that lightning in a bottle, even if it does have a similar premise and high-quality execution.
Even if The 8 Show doesn’t get as much attention as Squid Game, it sounds perfect for fans of the other series. It’ll certainly help tide them over until Squid Game season 2, which still has not gotten an official release date from Netflix. And if the new K-drama proves underwhelming, at least subscribers can look forward to Squid Game season 2. It looks like The 8 Show won’t disappoint though — not if the initial footage is anything to judge by.
Source: Netflix, YouTube, NME
Squid Game
*Availability in US
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In Squid Game, a mysterious invitation to join a competition is sent to people at risk who are in dire need of money. Four hundred fifty-six participants from all walks of life are locked into a secret location where they play games to win 45.6 billion won. Games are selected from traditional Korean children’s games, such as Red Light and Green Light, but the consequence of losing is death. To survive, competitors must choose their alliances carefully – but the further they go in the competition, the more likely betrayal will rear its ugly head.
- Cast
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Wi Ha-joon
, Anupam Tripathi
, Oh Yeong-su
, Heo Sung-tae
, Park Hae-soo
, Jung Ho-yeon
, Lee Jung-jae
, Kim Joo-ryoung - Release Date
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September 17, 2021
- Seasons
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1
- Streaming Service(s)
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Netflix
- Writers
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Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Directors
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Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Showrunner
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Hwang Dong-hyuk
