The final episode of ‘Squid Game’ season 3 delivered a major surprise that has fans talking about the future of the hit Netflix series. Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett made an unexpected appearance in the season finale, playing a role similar to the recruiter character from earlier seasons. Her cameo appears to set the stage for a long-rumored US spin-off of the Korean survival drama.

Blanchett’s scene takes place in Los Angeles, California, where she is shown instructing a homeless person to play the game of Ddakji. Just like the original recruiter played by Gong Yoo, she delivers brutal slaps to the face when the player loses. The actress is credited as making a “Special Appearance” in the episode, with Jesse Saler playing the homeless man opposite her.

Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk explained his vision for keeping the story alive beyond the Korean setting. “In this story, ‘Squid Game’ is hosted by a specific group of people, but it serves as a metaphor for the real world, where capitalism fuels relentless competition. So until that ends, the game will not end,” he said. “The game in Korea ended with Gi-hun’s sacrifice, but I wanted to show that the game was still ongoing elsewhere and that the world had not changed that much. We wanted to say: this isn’t really over.”

David Fincher reportedly attached to direct the US version

Reports suggest that acclaimed director David Fincher is set to helm the American version of ‘Squid Game’. The Oscar-winning filmmaker, known for movies like Fight Club and The Social Network, has been working exclusively with Netflix under a development deal. Dennis Kelly, the creator of the British series Utopia, is reportedly attached to write the US version.

The American spin-off is expected to serve as a continuation rather than a direct remake of the original series. Sources indicate that the show may be titled ‘Squid Game: America’ and will be set in the same universe as the Korean version. However, Netflix has not officially confirmed the project publicly.

Production on the US series is reportedly scheduled to begin in Los Angeles in December 2025. Master Key Studios will handle the LA production unit, with Zeus Zamani and Rhett Giles serving as producers. The timing works well for Fincher’s schedule, as he is currently committed to other film projects for the remainder of 2025, including a follow-up movie to Once Upon A Time in Hollywood.

Blanchett’s involvement in the season 3 finale was kept secret during production. Dong-hyuk revealed that “We actually kept it a strict secret amongst ourselves for a very long time.” Lee Byung-hun, who appeared in the same scene, shared that despite being in the finale together, he never actually met the Hollywood actress during filming. “We shot our parts separately with just a camera going back and forth. In the end, we parted ways without even saying hi,” he explained, though he noted that Blanchett took the role seriously and practiced extensively on set.

The creator’s comments about the endless nature of the game’s metaphor suggest that the franchise could continue expanding beyond just the US version. With capitalism and competition still driving the real world, Dong-hyuk’s vision leaves room for the deadly games to appear in other locations and contexts. While many details about the American spin-off remain unclear, Blanchett’s surprise appearance has certainly opened the door for the franchise’s global expansion.