Netflix has stopped work on an English-language spin-off of the South Korean hit series Squid Game that was set to be directed by David Fincher, according to sources cited by publication The Playlist. The project had the working title Heckler and was conceived as an expansion of the original show's universe, with filming planned to take place in the United Kingdom.
Dennis Kelly, creator of the British series Utopia, was slated to write the script for the planned series. However, after several years of development and leadership changes at Netflix, the company reassessed its priorities. Fincher has also shifted his focus to other projects, including his current work completing the film The Adventures of Cliff Booth.
Shift to local adaptations
The Playlist reported that Netflix now favors creating local adaptations of Squid Game for individual countries rather than producing a single large English-language spin-off. None of these potential local projects have been officially announced by the streaming service.
The franchise has also faced legal and market challenges. Indian director Soham Shah filed a lawsuit against Netflix, alleging that the platform plagiarized his film Luck during the creation of Squid Game. Additionally, shares of South Korean companies associated with the final season of Squid Game dropped after a restrained response from viewers.
