Local film studios repeatedly rejected his pitches, believing the concept behind Squid Game to be 'implausible' and 'too grotesque.” Netflix proved more savvy and picked up the show, recognizing that the show’s themes 'spoke to reality.” Hwang spent a decade attempting to sell his story while living with his mother and grandmother he was even forced to sell his laptop to raise money, putting a pause on his screenwriting career.
While writing the screenplay, Hwang Dong-hyuk was living the bitter reality of the show’s fictional contestants.
