Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk clarifies why season 3 will serve as the end of Gi-hun’s (Lee Jung-jae) story. Premiering on Netflix in 2021, the South Korean thriller show quickly became one of the streamer’s most popular original series of all time. After season 1 chronicled Gi-hun’s journey through a lethal competition involving children’s games to win a cash prize, Squid Game season 2 is confirmed to continue his story later this year. Season 3 has also been confirmed, and it will serve as the show’s final outing next year.

In a recent interview with THR, Hwang shares a progress update on Squid Game season 3, revealing that it’s surprisingly far along in the production pipeline. According to the creator, he’s “nearly done with the editing portion of season three.” As for why Hwang decided to end Gi-hun’s story with season 3, he explains that it ultimately feels like the natural end point of this particular character’s tale. Check out his comment below:

“When I was thinking about the idea for the ending of season three, I think it sort of naturally came to me that this was the finale. I believed that with that story, I was able to tell everything that I wanted to tell through the story of Squid Game and also in the perspective of Gi-hun as a character, and I thought that we don’t need any further stories from here .”

What Squid Game Season 3’s Update Means For Season 2

There Are Pros & Cons To A Season 3 Announcement

The fact that Hwang sees Gi-hun’s story as a clear, three-season arc means that season 2 will be setting the stage for a climactic final outing after the events of the Squid Game season 1 ending. This could potentially mean that all three seasons of Squid Game feel purposeful and deliberate in their own way, with seasons 2 and 3, in particular, feeling like two parts of a larger whole. On the other hand, it could also mean that season 2’s stakes feel lower, since Gi-hun is presumably guaranteed to survive.

Hwang’s latest Squid Game season 3 update could also speak to the season’s release date. Season 2 will bow on Netflix on December 26, and it sounds like season 3 could be arriving not too long afterward. It’s possible, for example, that season 3 could arrive in spring or summer 2025. Netflix took a similar approach, after all, with Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon movies, releasing the first in December and the second in April. It’s also possible, however, that Squid Game season 3 won’t arrive until a little later in the year to really anticipation.

Our Take On Squid Game Ending With Season 3

Gi-Hun’s Story Could Play Out Without Any Filler

Squid Game is one of the most popular Netflix originals of all time, so it’s somewhat surprising that it’s not running for additional seasons beyond the third. The fact that it’s ending with season 3, however, speaks to the power that Hwang has over the show, and it’s commendable that business considerations aren’t, in this case, taking precedence over creative vision.

It’s been reported that director David Fincher will oversee an American remake of Squid Game for Netflix, speaking to the streamer’s plans to capitalize on the franchise’s popularity.

With a tight three-season arc, Squid Game will hopefully avoid the fate that other longer-running shows suffer, which is more of a checkered reputation in terms of each season’s quality. If Gi-hun’s story can remain compelling for seasons 2 and 3, Squid Game won’t just solidify itself as one of Netflix’s most popular original shows ever, but one of its best.