Squid Game: Top Trending Series Rejected for 10 Years before Making Netflix Splash

Squid Game: Top Trending Series Rejected for 10 Years before Making Netflix Splash

  • Popular series, Squid Game, set to become the biggest show on Netflix, was rejected for 10 years
  • It was gathered that several studios turned down the South Korean show, saying it was too unrealistic
  • According to Netflix, Squid Game is poised to topple the likes of Lupin and Bridgerton from their top spots

We often hear of successful people stressing the need to never giving up on one’s dream. However, testimonies of people making it after years of rejection are often more effective.

Squid Game was rejected before becoming a hit.
Squid Game's creator was turned down for 10 years before Netflix came along. Photo: Netflix.
Source: UGC

Squid Game, a South Korean TV show on Netflix that has captivated audiences worldwide, has quite an interesting story.

Turned down

According to the Wall Street Journal, for almost ten years, studios rejected the show.

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The publication reports that the show’s creator, Hwang-hyuk, first came up with it a decade ago while living with his mother and grandmother.

However, multiple bids to pitch the show flopped, with studios turning down the fictionalised show terming it too unrealistic.

Hwang was so desperate for money that at one time, he was forced to sell his laptop to survive; hence, he could no longer write the script.

Success

However, tides have turned for Hwang, given the show’s success. Netflix announced that Squid Game is poised to become the biggest show on the streaming platform, overshadowing Bridgerton and Lupin.

Asked why he thought Squid Game is such a hit yet it was rejected a while back, Hwang said:

“The world has changed. All of these points made the story very realistic for people compared to a decade ago.”

With Season two in the making, only time will tell how big Squid Game will turn out to be.

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Squid Game storyline

Squid Game revolves around broke adults playing a traditional Korean children's game on a far-flung island.

The winner takes home around billions in cash, while the rest of the contenders are eliminated, literally.

Thousands of calls

In other news, Legit.ng reported that a man whose phone number appeared on the Squid Game series received thousands of calls.

In one scene, actor Gong Yoo handed out a card to a character, but the number shown on the card was an existing number used by someone.

The man said he received over 4,000 calls from the show's fans and was tired of the situation.

Netflix stated:

“We cannot do anything since it already went out and it is not like we did it intentionally. Honestly, we think the only option is for you to change your number.”

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Taiwo Owolawi avatar

Taiwo Owolawi (Entertainment Editor) Taiwo Owolawi is an entertainment and lifestyle journalist with four years of work experience at Legit.ng. She graduated from Osun State University with a degree in English and International Studies in 2016. She has also moved on to pursue courses in Public Relations and Copywriting. Taiwo emerged as Legit.ng's Best Entertainment Editor in 2022. Contact: taiwo.owolawi@corp.legit.ng.

Khadijah Thabit avatar

Khadijah Thabit (Copyeditor) Khadijah Thabit is an editor with over 3 years of experience editing and managing contents such as articles, blogs, newsletters and social leads. She has a BA in English and Literary Studies from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Khadijah joined Legit.ng in September 2020 as a copyeditor and proofreader for the Human Interest, Current Affairs, Business, Sports and PR desks. As a grammar police, she develops her skills by reading novels and dictionaries. Email: khadeeejathabit@gmail.com