Ever since Squid Game exploded onto global screens in 2021, fans have been hooked on its brutal honesty, high-stakes tension, and profound social commentary. Now, as the third season nears completion, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has hinted at a jaw-dropping twist in the final episodes—one that could alter the entire course of the series. In a recent interview, Hwang opened up about the changes he made to the original conclusion of Season 3, calling it the “boldest narrative shift” the series has ever seen.
The Korean thriller, which became a pop culture phenomenon almost overnight, is known for its unpredictable plot turns and morally ambiguous characters. But according to Hwang, fans who think they’ve figured out the formula are in for a surprise. “What we initially planned for Season 3’s ending was very different from what we have now,” he revealed. “As we went deeper into the story and the characters evolved, I realized the ending needed to be more disruptive—something that truly reflects the chaos of the world the show portrays.”
While Hwang remained tight-lipped about specific plot points, he did tease that the new conclusion would leave viewers stunned. “This ending challenges everything the audience thinks they know. It’s not just about who survives—it’s about what survival really means,” he said.
Season 3 will reportedly delve even further into the global scale of the deadly games, introducing new players, arenas, and power dynamics. Lee Jung-jae reprises his role as Seong Gi-hun, but this time, his motivations are more complex than ever. Instead of simply reacting to the horrors around him, Gi-hun becomes an active force in shaping what the game has become—a development that Hwang said played a significant role in how the season’s final chapter was crafted.
“The moral conflict inside Gi-hun has always been central to the story, but now we push it to its limits,” Hwang explained. “Does he destroy the game? Does he become part of it? These questions will haunt both the characters and the viewers until the very end.”
The creator also revealed that the new ending was not part of the original script outline. In fact, he had already developed an entirely different conclusion when inspiration struck during the editing process for an earlier episode. “I was watching a rough cut and suddenly had this moment where everything clicked,” he said. “I called my writers’ room the same night and said, ‘We need to go in a different direction.’ It was risky, but worth it.”
For those worried that the change might feel disconnected or rushed, Hwang reassured fans that the new direction has been carefully woven into the existing narrative threads. “We’ve gone back and layered in clues and symbolism that will make this ending feel not only inevitable but necessary,” he noted. “I want fans to feel a mix of shock, sorrow, and satisfaction.”
With the previous seasons tackling capitalism, class disparity, and human desperation in unique and haunting ways, Season 3 is expected to be even more philosophical, diving into the question of whether change is truly possible from within a broken system.
Fan speculation is already running wild across social media platforms, with theories ranging from Gi-hun becoming the next Front Man, to a complete collapse of the game infrastructure. While nothing has been confirmed, Hwang’s latest comments suggest that none of the theories are fully correct—and that the ending will be something no one sees coming.
As production wraps up and the release date draws closer, anticipation for Squid Game Season 3 is at an all-time high. If Hwang’s words are any indication, viewers should prepare themselves not just for another round of chilling suspense, but for a conclusion that will redefine the show’s legacy—and perhaps even the streaming era itself.
For now, one thing is certain: when Squid Game returns, nothing—and no one—will be safe from the game’s final, devastating turn.
