
By William Earl
SPOILER ALERT: This text comprises main spoilers from the “Squid Game” sequence finale, now streaming on Netflix.
Lee Jung-jae‘s Seong Gi-hun has all the time been the beating coronary heart of “Squid Recreation,” and his final sacrifice permits the dour finale to have a flash of humanity shine via.
Lee spoke with Selection in regards to the day he realized Participant 456’s destiny, his conversations with “Squid Recreation” creator Hwang Dong-hyuk in regards to the sequence finale and his hopes for Gi-hun’s daughter.
Now that it’s all been launched, I feel the ending was undoubtedly one thing that a whole lot of the viewers didn’t count on to see. I do know there are lots of people with all kinds of various opinions in regards to the ending, and I’m following up on all of them. I do know a whole lot of you want to precise what you considered the ending on social media, so I’m attempting to verify all of them.
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I obtained your entire script for Seasons 2 and three on the similar time, and I learn the whole lot the day that I obtained it. That’s after I realized about my character’s destiny and the ending. I used to be very shocked too, as a result of it was not one thing I had anticipated to see. I keep in mind talking loads about this ending with Director Hwang, and I requested him, “Did you will have completely different endings in thoughts? Have been there completely different variations?” And he advised me that he did consider different endings. Nonetheless, he did share with me that he believed this was the best solution to finish the story of “Squid Recreation.” He additionally shared with me that I shouldn’t take a look at Gi-hun’s sacrifice as simply merely a sacrifice itself, however what if we may take a look at it as one thing that exhibits or symbolizes hope for humanity?
That was a part of the numerous conversations between the director and me, and we thought loads about how the viewers was going to reply to Gi-hun making his alternative earlier than he finishes what he was saying. I keep in mind, even on the day that we shot that sequence, I consider loads was going via his thoughts. I feel he was additionally contemplating a special model of Gi-hun ending what he was saying. I used to be additionally pondering loads about completely different variations of that, too. However I consider Director Hwang wished the viewers to complete the sentence in their very own means and in their very own interpretation. I consider he designed the scene and the sequence in order that the top of the sentence belongs to the entire viewers, and they’re those who will end it with their very own feelings and their very own journey.
After all, it was that final scene, that final second of Gi-hun. I had been on a really strict food regimen for about 14 months main as much as that time. Particularly for the final two months, I used to be on an especially harsh food regimen in comparison with earlier than we shot the sequence. I had misplaced about 10 kilograms from my common weight. I actually wished to guarantee that not solely did I specific Gi-hun’s feelings, however I additionally wished the viewers to know simply how fully dry and depleted he was simply by him. I additionally keep in mind we needed to shoot that final second for a really very long time. It took loads longer than you may count on on that filming day. That was the one scene we have been in a position to shoot, so it was extraordinarily essential and likewise very difficult.
Interested by the “Squid Recreation” storyline, I wish to see Gi-hun’s daughter dismantle your entire system. However on a private be aware, I hope she doesn’t be taught something in regards to the fact of all of it. I hope she doesn’t know something about her dad. I simply want she would dwell a really blissful and secure life together with her stepdad and mother.
This interview was carried out via an interpreter and has been edited and condensed for readability.
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