Netflixcould be thinking twice about turning the dangers of turning its television series into a reality. Some participants ofSquid Game: The Challengeare threatening to take legal action against the company, according to a report fromDeadline. The anonymous contestants claim that they were injured after having to stay motionless in very low temperatures over a prolonged period of time, which caused hypothermia and nerve damage. Filming for the reality show took place in the United Kingdom.
Squid Game: The Challengewas created after the resounding successSquid Gamesaw upon its debut, with the knowledge that producing a second season ofthe acclaimed dramawould take quite some time. In an attempt to expand the franchise and keep the brand relevant while the second installment was produced, the streaming platform came up with the idea of simulatingthe challenges seen in the seriesas a reality show. But a reality competition based on a series where the participants die was a questionable concept from the start.
The first season ofSquid Gamefollowed the story of Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), a gambling addict struggling to make ends meet. The protagonist is in desperate need of some money, and he is offered to join Oh Il-Nam’s (O Yeong-su) cruel competition meant to kill several people while they fight for an obscene amount of money. Leaving his mother behind, Seong Gi-hun enters the contest, meeting people who slowly turn into unhinged versions of themselves when they realize they will have to let other people die to obtain the prize. And it looks like Seong Gi-hun isn’t done with the games just yet.
Why Are the ‘Squid Game’ Contestants Threatening to Sue Netflix?
Two unnamed contestants have hired a British law firm, Express Solicitors, witha case claiming that they suffered hypothermia and nerve damagewhile shooting the series. They claim that they obtained these injurieswhile filming a version of the show’s memorable “red light, green light” game. A spokesperson forSquid Game: The Challengetold Deadline that “No lawsuit has been filed" yet, saying “We take the welfare of our contestants extremely seriously.”Daniel Slade, CEO of Express Solicitors, also shared a statement about the potential case, saying:
“We recognize people may see this as a classic David and Goliath battle with the company and its production partners. Contestants thought they were taking part in something fun and those injured did not expect to suffer as they did. Now they have been left with injuries after spending time being stuck in painful stress positions in cold temperatures.”
Squid GameandSquid Game: The Challengeare both available for streaming on Netflix.
Squid Game: The Challenge
Inspired by the hit series Squid Game, this reality competition show brings 456 contestants together to compete in a series of challenges based on the show’s deadly games. While the stakes aren’t lethal, the tension is still high as players vie for a massive cash prize, navigating psychological twists and intense eliminations.
Watch on Netflix
