Despite mounting fan speculation, director Hwang Dong-hyuk has confirmed that there will be no Season 4 of Netflix’s global sensation Squid Game. However, the final moments of Season 3 may have hinted at something equally thrilling: a U.S.-based spin-off, headlined by none other than Hollywood icon Cate Blanchett.
Particularly, in the final episode of Season 3, Cate Blanchett makes a brief yet unforgettable appearance as a recruiter, echoing Gong Yoo’s role from Season 1. The scene takes place in a Los Angeles alley, where Blanchett, clad in a sharp suit with her signature blonde hair tied back, challenges a stranger to a game of ttakji (also known as “ddakji”, the slap card game that kickstarts the Squid Game universe). She even delivers a stinging slap, then offers a subtle nod to the Front Man, leaving audiences stunned.
Hwang later revealed that Blanchett’s cameo was filmed with minimal rehearsal. “She didn’t get much proper practice with the ttakji, so I gave her a quick lesson,” he said in the post-release feature “Squid Game: The Story”.
So, why Cate Blanchett? Speaking during “Netflix’s Tudum 2025”, Hwang shared his rationale, “Cate Blanchett has unmatched charisma. I needed someone who could command the screen with just a few words and expressions, so she was the right person. I thought that casting a female recruiter would make the scene more dramatic and intriguing.”
He continued, “Blanchett showed off her charming acting with just a few expressions and lines,” adding, “She was even really good at ttakji, so we were able to film it without difficulty even though it was a long take.”
Meanwhile, Cate Blanchett is a top Hollywood star known for films like Carol, The Lord of the Rings, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Thor: Ragnarok. Her performance seems to serve as a narrative bridge to a new series – that is an American spin-off of Squid Game
Slated for a late 2026 or early 2027 release, this American spin-off is said to be in the early stages, with David Fincher (Fight Club, Se7en, Gone Girl) attached to direct.
