The show’s creators reveal that “Squid Game” was supposed to have a completely different title.
The South Korean series has long ago won the hearts of viewers around the world, and broke all viewership records, despite the fact that not even 2 months have passed since the premiere of the production. At this point, however, it can be said that it is a global megahit and one of the best series of the year.
Therefore, everyone knows about this series, even if they have never watched it. There are already many cosplays or gadgets related to the South Korean series. The Squid Game has become so popular around the world that anyone who hears the title of the series will immediately recognize what it is about. What if it had a completely different name?
What was supposed to be the name of the Squid Game?
Kim Min Young, executive producer of Netflix, recently took an interview with The Hollywood Reporter to discuss some interesting things about Squid Game. The producer was answering questions about the second season, the genesis of the show, and shared many interesting aspects of the show.
It was during this interview that Kim Min Young revealed that the title of the production was quite a subject of discussion, which was discussed several times, and that Squid Game was to have a completely different name.
The producer explained that although the game of squid is a real game in South Korea, it is an old game less known by younger generations. As a result, the production was concerned about the attractiveness of the title not only in the world but also in its own country.
Squid Game, or ojingeo in Korean, is a real kids’ game here, but not all Koreans actually know it. My generation knows it, but my niece’s generation probably wouldn’t. So, initially, we knew we wanted this show to travel but we were worried the title Squid Game wouldn’t resonate because not many people would get it.
Consequently, Kim revealed that Squid Game’s alternate title was supposed to be “Round six”. The easier name of the series was to refer to the six games that were played by the participants of the game, the last of which was a real squid game, known by the older generation of Koreans.
It wasn’t until Hwang Dong Hyuk, the lead creator of the Squid Game, suggested reverting to the original title in order to preserve the essence of the show. Now, the director is only praising his decision, explaining that the “more traditional” name of the show only helped it gain popularity, especially among audiences who had never dealt with Korean culture before, arousing their curiosity.
It seems that if it weren’t for the main production director, we wouldn’t be watching “Squid Game” but “Round Six”, which, according to many, is not such a catchy title. It is very possible that the series would not have gained such popularity had it not been for the original title.