Cate Blanchett Teases “Squid Game: USA” as Netflix Eyes Global Spinoffs — What Season 3’s Shocking Ending Sets Up Next

Netflix Lays the Groundwork for a Squid Game Universe

The bloody saga of Squid Game might have wrapped its third season with the death of protagonist Seong Gi-hun, but behind the shocking finale, Netflix has dropped its clearest hint yet that the franchise is only just beginning. A jaw-dropping cameo by Cate Blanchett in the closing minutes of the series has sparked intense speculation about a potential U.S. spinoff — and possibly a wider Squid Game Cinematic Universe.

Industry insiders confirm that Netflix is seriously exploring ways to expand the hit Korean series into a global franchise, with multiple spinoff concepts under discussion. Here’s what we know so far — and what it could mean for the future of the Games.

Cate Blanchett’s Cameo Signals an American Squid Game

The most immediate sign of Netflix’s ambitions came in Season 3’s final scene, where Blanchett appears as a recruiter in Los Angeles, luring a potential contestant with the iconic red-and-blue ddakji tile game.

“It was a clear signal that the Game is bigger than Korea,” creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told EW this week. “We wanted to show how it could expand globally.” (EW)

Blanchett’s surprise appearance has ignited rumors that Netflix plans to set a new season — or an entirely new series — in the United States. Industry reports suggest names like David Fincher and Dennis Kelly have been floated for possible creative leadership, with a concept exploring how the Squid Game might translate into American society, fueled by themes of economic inequality, debt, and a uniquely American flavor of desperation.

“They’re looking at new games, cultural references, and an American context for the same brutal competition,” an insider told Deadline. (Deadline)

Hwang Confirms Gi-hun’s Story Is Over — But Spinoffs Are Fair Game

While Netflix is tight-lipped about specific plans, Hwang Dong-hyuk has made it clear that Gi-hun’s arc has concluded. However, he’s left the door wide open for new stories in the same universe.

“There’s so much to explore, like how the guards are chosen, who recruits people in other countries, and how the system keeps going,” Hwang said in an interview with CinemaBlend. “I would love to tell those stories.” (CinemaBlend)

Fans have long speculated about a series focusing on the masked guards, VIPs, and the internal power dynamics behind the scenes. The three-year gap between Seasons 1 and 2 has been particularly mentioned as fertile ground for storytelling.

Netflix Eyes a Global Franchise — and Big Money

It’s no secret that Squid Game is one of Netflix’s most valuable franchises, having shattered viewership records since 2021. Industry analysts say it’s only logical for Netflix to follow the model of successful universes like the MCU or Money Heist, expanding the brand with regional adaptations and spin-offs.

There’s even talk of a Squid Game feature film, though sources suggest Netflix might focus first on regional series in different countries, each adapting the games to local culture and social issues.

“The ending was brilliant because it gives Netflix a perfect excuse to go global,” one analyst told Decider. “They’d be crazy not to.”

Fans React: Excitement and Caution

Online, the prospect of a Squid Game: USA has divided fans. Many are excited to see how the concept might reflect American economic anxieties, while others fear the unique Korean identity and social commentary of the original series could be lost in translation.

“I’d watch the hell out of Squid Game in America, but only if it keeps the same brutal satire,” one fan tweeted. “Otherwise it’s just another bloody reality show.”

Meanwhile, Cate Blanchett’s cameo has been praised as one of the most unexpected — and effective — cliffhangers in recent TV history, instantly shifting fan focus from Gi-hun’s fate to the future of the franchise.

The Final Word

Here’s my take: Netflix absolutely plans to expand Squid Game into a global phenomenon, and that Cate Blanchett cameo was not random fan service — it’s a franchise launchpad.

A Squid Game: USA spinoff is the likeliest next step, and the idea of David Fincher steering that ship is deliciously sinister. But the big question is whether Netflix can preserve the razor-sharp social critique that made the original series so powerful — or if this will turn into flashy violence with none of the substance.

Either way, the Game is far from over. And I’ll be first in line to watch the next round.

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