“Squid Game: America,” also known as “Squid Game: USA,” is an upcoming English-language spin-off of the global Netflix sensation Squid Game. The project has been in development for several years as part of Netflix’s plans to expand the franchise into a larger universe. Although Netflix has not officially announced the series, multiple industry sources indicate that the project is in pre-production and moving toward filming soon.
The series will not be a remake of the original Korean hit, which concluded its phenomenal journey in June. Instead, it will exist within the same fictional universe and explore how the deadly competition would function in the United States. The project is being guided creatively by an impressive team, led by acclaimed filmmaker David Fincher.
“Squid Game: America” Release Timeline
Several production details have already surfaced. According to listings from the Film and Television Industry Alliance, filming for Squid Game: America is scheduled to begin on February 26, 2026, primarily in Los Angeles and other parts of California.
Although Netflix has not set a release date, industry analysts believe the series is most likely to debut in 2028. If Netflix follows the pattern of the original series, there is speculation that it could premiere during the Christmas holiday season that year.
Squid Game: USA Plot Overview
The exact storyline is being kept secret, but the series is set in the same universe as the original Squid Game. Its purpose is to show how the competition would operate within an American setting. A new cast of characters and a narrative will run parallel to the original Korean storyline.
The spin-off was hinted at during the finale of Squid Game Season 3. In a short scene set in a Los Angeles alleyway, Cate Blanchett appears as a mysterious recruiter playing the traditional “ddakji” paper-tile game with a potential contestant. This cameo strongly implies the beginning of the American version of the competition.
Cast and Creative Team
David Fincher, known for visually precise and psychologically intense films such as Fight Club, Se7en, Gone Girl, and Zodiac, is attached to direct the new series. The script is being written by Dennis Kelly, the British creator of the dystopian thriller Utopia.
The producing team includes David Fincher himself alongside Hwang Dong Hyuk, the original creator of Squid Game, joined by Kim Ji Yeon, Zeus Zamani, and Rhett Giles. Their combined involvement shows a serious commitment to maintaining the tone, themes, and quality of the original production.
At this stage, Cate Blanchett is the only actor linked to the project. Her exact character has not been officially confirmed, but based on the Season 3 cameo, she is expected to play the American equivalent of Gong Yoo’s recruiter from the Korean series. Reports suggest the remainder of the cast will be entirely new.
The Legacy of the Original Series
The Korean version of Squid Game became a worldwide cultural event in 2021, ultimately becoming Netflix’s most-watched series at launch. It followed hundreds of desperate contestants who entered a deadly competition based on childhood games in hopes of winning an enormous cash prize.
Losing the games resulted in their deaths, which helped highlight the show’s sharp critique of inequality, capitalism, and modern financial struggles. The original cast included Lee Jung Jae and Lee Byung Hun as leads.
The title comes from a real children’s playground game in Korea called “Squid,” in which two teams battle on a squid-shaped court drawn on the ground.
With filming scheduled to begin in 2026 and a projected 2028 release window, fans still have a long wait ahead. However, the early details suggest a major new chapter in the Squid Game universe is on the way.
