'Squid Game 2' Nominated for Golden Globe Before Release, Director Expresses Gratitude

The Netflix series '오징어 게임2' (Squid Game 2) has been nominated for the Best Television Series - Drama category at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards, even before its official release. The announcement was made on December 9, 2024, as part of the nominees for the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.

'Squid Game 2' will compete against other notable series including FX's 'Shogun', Netflix's 'The Diplomat', Apple TV+'s 'Slow Horses', Prime Video's 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith', and Peacock's 'Day of the Jackal'.

With its premiere set for December 26, the nomination has garnered significant attention, especially since it is unusual for a show to receive such recognition prior to airing. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk expressed his gratitude through Netflix, stating, "I am truly thankful that a work that hasn't even been released yet has been nominated for such a prestigious award. I worked hard to ensure that fans of Season 1 would not be disappointed, and it seems that the Golden Globes recognized our efforts first, which makes me happy and grateful."

He also mentioned, "When you watch Season 2, you will see that the social critique present in Season 1 continues to resonate. I hope viewers reflect on these themes in relation to current events, making the experience even more meaningful."

Local media outlets like The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline noted that it is quite rare for a show to be nominated before its airing. Speculation suggests that Netflix may have provided the completed version of 'Squid Game 2' to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) before the nomination deadline of November 4.

Typically, U.S. networks refrain from releasing new shows at the end of the year, but Netflix has broken this trend by scheduling the release of 'Squid Game 2' during the Christmas holiday season, which likely facilitated the early submission for Golden Globe consideration.

However, since the show has not yet aired, 'Squid Game 2' is only nominated in the Best Television Series - Drama category. This marks the second time the 'Squid Game' series has received a Golden Globe nomination, following its recognition in three categories, including Best Television Series and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for O Yeong-su, who won the award in 2022, making history as the first Asian male actor to do so.

'Squid Game' Season 2 will follow the intense rivalry between Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who returns to participate in the games seeking revenge, and the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). The series is set to premiere on Netflix on December 26, 2024.

The 82nd Golden Globe Awards will take place on January 5, 2025.