When Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos advised journalists that “the Squid Recreation universe has simply begun” previous this yr, he wasn’t kidding.
Simply days after the streamer officially confirmed the advance of Squid Game season 2, Netflix has introduced plans to release “the largest actuality festival collection ever” within the type of Squid Recreation: The Problem – a 10-episode sport exhibit that may see 456 contestants scuffling with it out for an almighty $4.56 million money prize.
“As they compete thru a chain of video games encouraged by means of the unique exhibit – plus unexpected new additions – [contestants’] methods, alliances, and persona will likely be put to the check whilst competition are eradicated round them,” Netflix wrote in a statement (opens in new tab) pronouncing the collection.
Squid Recreation: The Problem is recruiting for individuals now – you’ll be able to practice your self here (opens in new tab) in case you’re feeling courageous – and the exhibit is anticipated to start taking pictures in the United Kingdom for as much as 4 weeks in early 2023. By way of that time table, the collection may hit Netflix once the second one part of subsequent yr.
However let’s now not beat concerning the bush: this announcement comes as no wonder. Squid Recreation was once not anything wanting a cultural phenomenon for Netflix in 2021, racking up an unprecedented number of viewing hours to turn into the largest exhibit within the streamer’s historical past (now not even Stranger Things season 4 may vault the bar set by means of Hwang Dong-hyuk’s dystopian survival drama).
Long run seasons of Squid Recreation had been all-but confident following the conclusion of its nine-episode debut, and the collection’ distinctive sport show-style premise led many to consider {that a} Squid Recreation-inspired Netflix actuality manufacturing was once additionally a formality.
Now, that actuality collection is, smartly, a actuality – and in spite of the inevitable nature of the entire thought, Squid Recreation: The Problem however represents a stroke of genius at the a part of a streamer whose recent subscriber woes have left it clamouring for brand spanking new long-term successes.
Elevating the bar for actuality TV
Netflix has doubled down on generating a conveyor belt of reality-style displays in recent times, with mixed results.
At the one hand, the relentless addition of collection within the Attractive Beasts and Is It Cake? mould suggests the corporate’s annual $14 billion content material funds not supplies the standard assurance subscribers as soon as concept it did. To make issues worse, those overproduced sport displays appear much less prone to face the cutting block than lots of the if truth be told genre-pushing tasks that Netflix every so often moves gold with (the likes of Archive 81, Sense8 and The OA have all fallen sufferer to its now-infamous cancel culture in recent times).
However for all of the triviality of Attractive Beasts, the likes of The Circle, Promoting Sundown, Too Sizzling to Deal with and Love Is Blind have confirmed the streamer’s talent to provide if truth be told relaxing actuality displays with devoted fan bases (many of those multi-season collection ceaselessly pop up amongst Netflix’s weekly hottest ratings, too). None, although, are handled with the similar advertising oomph nor revel in the rest with reference to the mainstream approval for the platform’s tentpole displays – and their romance-based premises are accountable.
The Squid Recreation universe, by contrast, it appears that evidently appeals to all varieties of audiences. There is not any query that hundreds of thousands of recent and present subscribers would track in to observe 456 contributors of the general public operating, leaping and cookie-cutting their manner thru a string of acquainted demanding situations (YouTube megastar MrBeast was once fast to provide his personal unofficial, and wildly standard, Squid Game competition (opens in new tab) following the discharge of the Netflix collection remaining yr).
Heck, Squid Recreation: The Problem would possibly end up much more entertaining than its fictional counterpart. What’s extra, not like its supply subject matter, the collection received’t be certain by means of narrative good judgment – that means it will, in concept, run for so long as audience stay .
Believe the iconic approval for Love Island, as an example, which stays the benchmark for actuality TV in 2022. The United Kingdom-produced matchmaking collection kicked off long ago in 2015 and, seven seasons later, its annual structure stays unchanged.
Squid Recreation: The Problem, by means of its nature, may conceivably be offering audiences extra selection than Love Island by means of switching up its video games year-on-year – however the level is, it most certainly received’t wish to.
In fact, the sort of large-scale manufacturing will provide its personal distinctive demanding situations for Netflix. There’s no realizing which of Squid Recreation: The Problem’s 456 contestants will make it previous which demanding situations, that means manufacturers might to find it tough to focal point protection on sure folks. The target audience, due to this fact, would possibly combat to shape any significant connections with individuals (why must they care about contestant quantity 321, for instance, over contestant quantity 14?).
Likewise, for the reason that (we predict?) the effects of failing a problem received’t imply sure demise, it can be tough for Netflix to expand any significant stakes in a exhibit so singularly reliant at the attract of its grand prize (even though, in equity, the vast majority of the sector’s sport displays revolve round cash).
However those are all bridges Netflix will hope to pass relating to them. For now, Squid Recreation: The Problem turns out like a sure-fire phenomenon and, must it get any place with reference to achieving its mammoth doable, it will lay the groundwork for a slew of IP-based Netflix actuality collection sooner or later.
Bridgerton: The Relationship Revel in? Cash Heist: The Destroy-In? Judging by means of the choice of Netflix-inspired are living occasions and Halloween costumes once a year, lovers are in a position and prepared to immerse themselves within the streamer’s fictional worlds.
Glance out, Love Island: The Entrance Guy is coming.
