A seismic disclosure has electrified devotees of Squid Game, the South Korean dystopian juggernaut that gripped the world, as creator Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed an entirely different storyline was originally crafted for the show’s second season. This discarded narrative, which would have plunged into the murky origins of the enigmatic Front Man, played by Lee Byung-hun, was sidelined to spotlight Seong Gi-hun’s contemporary crusade against the game’s shadowy overlords. Yet, this shelved plot has ignited fervent speculation about a spinoff centered on the Front Man, fueling anticipation among fans.
The revelation surfaced during a candid exchange between Lee Byung-hun and Forbes, where the acclaimed actor reflected on his pivotal role and the creative evolution of Squid Game’s second season. “While I was filming the drama Our Blues on Jeju Island, Director Hwang—he had already decided to go ahead with Squid Game season 2—came to visit me and chat a bit,” Lee Byung-hun shared. “I asked him, ‘What’s season 2 going to be about?’ And he said, ‘Honestly, there’s nothing in my head right now.’ So I asked, ‘Could it maybe be about how In-ho (the Front Man) first entered the games and what it looked like back then?’ He said that he too was thinking of heading in that direction.” Lee Byung-hun also revealed the immense toll the production took on Hwang Dong-hyuk, noting, “Yeah. He said it almost killed him. He told me he lost seven teeth from all the stress during production.”
This initial vision for Squid Game Season 2 would have peeled back the layers of Hwang In-ho, the Front Man, whose chilling presence and complex motivations have captivated viewers since his unmasking in Season 1. Rather than focusing on Seong Gi-hun’s (Lee Jung-jae) quest to dismantle the deadly games, the scrapped storyline would have explored In-ho’s descent into darkness—his journey from a desperate player to the cold, calculating overseer of the Squid Game universe. Lee Byung-hun’s suggestion to Hwang Dong-hyuk underscores the actor’s deep investment in his character, as he sought to unravel the psychological and emotional underpinnings of In-ho’s transformation. However, the narrative took an unexpected turn. “A lot changed after that, and instead of a story about the past, the narrative shifted into something that takes place in the present. So I was really surprised when that happened,” Lee Byung-hun noted, revealing the pivot that shaped the season fans ultimately saw.
The decision to shift away from this backstory-driven plot was not taken lightly. Hwang Dong-hyuk, who has masterfully woven themes of class disparity and human desperation into Squid Game, opted to prioritize Gi-hun’s present-day rebellion against the game’s architects, setting up a philosophical clash with the Front Man. In Season 2, In-ho, disguised as Player 001 under the alias Oh Young-il, infiltrates the games to challenge Gi-hun’s belief in humanity’s potential for good.
Lee Byung-hun expressed his astonishment at this creative choice: “Also, the fact that Hwang In-ho would personally enter the games using a fake name like Oh Young-il – I thought that was a really fresh idea. The Front Man ending up participating in the games was surprising even for me.” This twist, revealed at the end of Episode 3, stunned audiences as In-ho formed an alliance with Gi-hun, only to betray him in the heart-wrenching finale, where he killed Gi-hun’s closest ally, Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan).
The narrative shift allowed for a tense, ideological battle, with Lee Byung-hun describing In-ho’s motivations. Speaking to THR, he said, “If you think about the way his life has progressed, his worldview has to be deeply rooted in a feeling of being extremely disappointed in mankind and the world overall — that he truly feels there’s absolutely no hope in humanity.”
Yet, the scrapped plot’s focus on In-ho’s origins remains a tantalizing prospect. Lee Byung-hun’s recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon sent fans into a frenzy when he teased the possibility of a Front Man spinoff. When asked by Fallon if a standalone series centered on his character was in the works, Lee Byung-hun pressed the “yes” button during a playful game of red-and-blue-button questions, only to cryptically add, “There is a possibility we’ll never know what happens.” This provocative hint has fueled speculation that Netflix and Hwang Dong-hyuk may be considering expanding the Squid Game universe to explore In-ho’s backstory—a tale of a former police officer and Squid Game winner who succumbed to despair after personal tragedy.
The allure of a Front Man spinoff lies in its potential to unravel the mysteries surrounding In-ho’s past. Season 2 offered glimpses into his life before the mask, revealing the devastating loss of his wife to illness and the financial ruin that drove him to enter the games. These fragments, delivered through In-ho’s fabricated persona as Young-il, hint at a man whose hope was shattered by betrayal and hardship. A spinoff could dive deeper into his initial participation as Player 132, his victory in the 2015 games, and his eventual rise to power as the Front Man, taking over from the original creator, Oh Il-nam. Such a series would offer a darker, more introspective narrative, contrasting with Gi-hun’s redemptive arc and potentially exploring the moral decay that defines the Squid Game organization.
The Squid Game universe is already expanding, with a U.S. remake in development under director David Fincher, but a Front Man spinoff would offer a unique opportunity to deepen the franchise’s lore while staying rooted in its Korean origins. As Squid Game Season 3, set to premiere on June 27, 2025, promises to conclude Gi-hun’s story, the potential for a spinoff could keep the franchise alive, exploring new facets of its dystopian world. Lee Byung-hun’s nuanced performance and Hwang Dong-hyuk’s visionary storytelling have laid the groundwork for what could be a gripping exploration of In-ho’s psyche, from his days as a hopeful player to his transformation into the masked enforcer of despair.
With Squid Game Season 3 slated for release on June 27, 2025, fans are eagerly awaiting the culmination of Gi-hun’s battle against the game’s shadowy forces, while holding out hope that the Front Man’s untold story will find new life in a spinoff. Whether through flashbacks in the upcoming season or a standalone series, the enigmatic Front Man’s tale is poised to captivate audiences once more, promising a chilling journey into the heart of Squid Game’s darkest figure.
Check out the trailer for Squid Game Season 3 below:
