Cate Blanchett makes a cameo in the Squid Game season 3 finale in a scene that sets up David Fincher’s spinoff show and the future of the Netflix franchise. Back in Squid Game season 1, we learned from one of the VIPs that the Korean games were not the only ones happening in the world. This gave Netflix the perfect opportunity to expand the franchise with international spinoffs, which is now officially happening with David Fincher’s American Squid Game.

Whether Squid Game‘s final season was going to set up any spinoffs remained to be seen. The second season made no reference to international games, and the show was entirely focused on Gi-hun and the rest of the Squid Game characters. However, Cate Blanchett’s cameo in the final minutes of Squid Game‘s series finale confirmed not only that the games are happening in other countries but also that Netflix has ambitious plans for the American spinoff.

Cate Blanchett Appears In Squid Game Season 3’s Finale As A Recruiter

Cate Blanchett Is The American Squid Game’s Recruiter

Two-time Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett appears at the very end of Squid Game season 3, episode 6 as the recruiter for the American Squid Game. Blanchett’s character is seen playing ddakji with a homeless man in an alley in Los Angeles, very much like Gong Yoo’s character would do in Seoul. She sees In-ho, the Front Man, who was in California to give Gi-hun’s daughter the money. Blanchett gives In-ho an ominous smile before going back to playing ddajki as the episode cuts to credits.

In-ho didn’t seem surprised to see a recruiter playing ddakji in L.A., which makes sense considering that the Front Man was likely well-aware of the games that were being hosted in other countries. Blanchett’s character also seemed to recognize In-ho as the Front Man, suggesting she has been part of this organization for a while.

The fact that the Squid Game also happens in America is not surprising, given how most, if not all, VIPs from seasons 1 and 2 were from the United States. The organization that Il-nam and his wealthy friends started is clearly not limited to Korea, and we can assume that similar games are being hosted in several other countries.

What Cate Blanchett’s Squid Game Character Means For The Franchise

Netflix Has High Hopes For The American Squid Game

While Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has openly talked about the rumors of an American spinoff, stating that he has also “read news about David Fincher taking on a spin-off of Squid Game,” Netflix has yet to officially confirm the project. Speaking to GamesRadar+ ahead of the release of season 2, director Hwang noted that nothing had been shared with him yet, but that he was a big fan of Fincher and was very excited to “see what happens.”

“I’ve also read news about David Fincher taking on a spin-off of Squid Game, and it isn’t something that’s been shared with me officially, so it’s tricky to comment. But having said that, as a big fan of David Fincher, you know, I hugely respect a lot of his work. If he actually were to do the spin-off of Squid Game, I personally, as a fan, I am very excited to see what happens. You know, I can’t wait to see what he has in store.”

Now, Blanchett’s cameo in Squid Game‘s finale all but confirms that Netflix is indeed moving forward with an American spinoff of its biggest show of all time. Whether she would reprise her role in this new Squid Game show is unclear, but having such an acclaimed actor be part of the project would surely make it even more interesting. A lot of people are unsure about whether Squid Game needs a spinoff, but it’s hard to say that this potential collaboration between Fincher and Blanchett doesn’t sound amazing.

Cate Blanchett and David Fincher have worked together in 2008’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Cate Blanchett playing the recruiter in the American Squid Game show would continue the tradition set by the original series of having major stars in relatively small roles. Gong Yoo, one of the most acclaimed South Korean actors, played the Seoul recruiter in Squid Game‘s seasons 1 and 2 and had only a few scenes on the show. Likewise, Lee Byung-hun, an incredibly renowned Korean actor, was not revealed as the Front Man until the end of season 1. It remains to be seen if Blanchett’s character will return, but Squid Game‘s future looks exciting.

Squid Game season 3’s epilogue took place six months after Gi-hun’s death and the explosion of the island. More than teasing the American spinoff, Cate Blanchett’s scene in the finale confirms that the games were not stopped. The Korean games might not be hosted for a while now that they were exposed, but the Squid Game will continue in at least one other country.

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Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’ Season 3 delivers a grim farewell to Gi-hun but teases new blood with Cate Blanchett’s surprise cameo. As Seong Gi-hun sacrifices himself to protect Player 222, the Front Man moves the Games’ shadow to Los Angeles. Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk hints at spin-offs but stays silent on ‘Squid Game: America’, which rumour says could shoot in 2025 under David Fincher and Dennis Kelly. For fans wondering how much is 45.6 billion won — it’s about £26 million.

AgenciesImage via Epic Games.

Netflix’s Squid Game Season 3 landed this week, ending the saga of Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), Player 456, who first captured global attention in Season 1. Viewers watched Gi-hun enter the Games to clear debts but saw him become a rebel inside the blood-soaked competition.

This time, the final episode sees Gi-hun trapped in a last stand. He faces Myung-gi (Yim Si-wan) and Jun-hee’s newborn baby, now Player 222. Both men kill the other contestants too soon. The cruel twist? At least one must die each round. Myung-gi’s desperation ends in a fall off the platform, leaving Gi-hun with a choice — kill the baby or face the guards’ guns.

Gi-hun defies the Games’ cruelty. He ends his own life instead, shouting he is “not a horse to be bet on but a human with a life.” He spares the child but seals his own fate. Player 456 is gone.

The Island burns but the Front Man escapes

As the final round breaks down, Lee Byung-hun’s Front Man — In-ho — blows up the Games’ island. Hundreds of bodies remain inside the flaming arena. Yet In-ho takes the baby and the winnings — 45.6 billion won (roughly £26 million) — and disappears before the police arrive.

The South Korean arena is finished. But the system that fed it? That flame flickers still.

Jun-ho and No-eul walk away or try to

While Gi-hun’s life ends, other faces from the Squid Game Season 2 cast — Jun-ho (Wi Ha-jun) and No-eul (Park Gyu-young) — wrestle with their own escapes. Jun-ho, brother to the Front Man, reaches the island at the last moment. No-eul, torn by guilt over abandoning her own child in North Korea, helps another father flee and then tries to torch the Games’ secrets. In the chaos, the wealthy VIPs leave untouched. No punishment. No change.

Six months later: Money moves on

Half a year passes. Jun-ho’s ally Mr Choi (Jeon Seok-ho) is out of prison. Jun-ho drops his fight. But the Front Man appears again — and hands him Jun-hee’s baby and that mountain of won Gi-hun first won. The prize lives on. So does the question: at what cost?

Cate Blanchett and ‘Squid Game USA’

And just when the story appears shut — one silent scene swings the door wide open. In the final minutes, In-ho rides through downtown Los Angeles. He spots a figure in a suit. Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett. She’s playing Ddakji with a homeless man, echoing Gong Yoo’s “Salesman” from Squid Game Season 1.

Their eyes lock. No words. Just a nod. The Front Man closes the window. The camera fades.

Hwang Dong-hyuk, the series creator, told Netflix’s Tudum: “We thought having a woman as a recruiter would be more dramatic and intriguing. And as for why Cate Blanchett, she’s just the best, with unmatched charisma. Who doesn’t love her? So we were very happy to have her appear.” He added, “If Gong Yoo is the Korean Recruiter, I thought she would be the perfect fit as the American Recruiter, bringing a short but gripping and impactful ending to the story.”

Lee Byung-hun confirmed he never met Blanchett on set: “We shot our parts separately with just a camera going back and forth.”

Is the American Squid Game next?

Blanchett’s cameo fuels old rumours. For years, whispers have said Netflix might back a Squid Game USA. Deadline reported David Fincher might develop it. Dennis Kelly, of Utopia, is linked as writer. Sources suggest “Squid Game: America” could start production in Los Angeles in December 2025. Netflix? Quiet for now.

Hwang Dong-hyuk told Entertainment Weekly: “I’m not trying to say that I’m going to close the door to spinoffs or sequels altogether because they say never say never.”

Until then, the Squid Game cast stands frozen between an ending and a question mark.

For Netflix, Squid Game lives beyond Gi-hun’s sacrifice. There’s a mobile game. The reality spin-off Squid Game: The Challenge won a BAFTA. Philadelphia and Dallas will soon house permanent Squid Game venues.

So the slap of Ddakji may ring next in American streets. Squid Game Season 1 shocked the world. Seasons 2 and 3 — messy as they were — kept the fight alive. If there’s more, it begins with Blanchett’s nod on that Los Angeles pavement.

One last question for fans: ready for the next slap?