'Squid Game' U.S. spin-off suddenly scrapped — why Netflix passed on a David Fincher project

Netflix scraps standalone U.S. spin-off of 'Squid Game' at the last minute… Fincher director exits

Scrambling the global strategy after an executive shake-up, final cancellation of filming that had been set to begin in the U.K. this year

The U.S. spin-off of 'Squid Game', Netflix's top blockbuster that triggered a worldwide sensation, has been completely scrapped.

Hopes were raised with the arrival of a master filmmaker, but… Netflix's strategy revision brings the project to a sudden halt

On the 8th (local time), according to major overseas outlets including The Playlist, 'Netflix' has ultimately canceled the production of 'Heckler' (working title), its Hollywood spin-off project for 'Squid Game'.

Originally, the film was set to be directed by 'David Fincher' of 'Fight Club', with 'Denis Kelly' handling the screenplay, and filming was expected to begin in the U.K. this year. In particular, expectations had reached their peak after a cross-cut scene between the Front Man ('Lee Byung-hun') and the Hollywood star 'Cate Blanchett' appeared in the season 3 finale.

But the change in Netflix's internal leadership and a long delay in development proved fatal. As the global OTT market reshuffles, priorities shifted rapidly. In the end, the company pivoted its strategy toward focusing on original content tailored to local markets in each country, rather than producing a U.S. version. A source said, "A spin-off of 'Squid Game' targeting a specific region is not being carried out at present," cutting off the rumors.

Having achieved six wins at the 2022 U.S. Emmy Awards and writing a new chapter for K-content, 'Squid Game' is expected to focus, for now, on expanding the world of the main series. Meanwhile, 'David Fincher', who exited the project, is busy with the post-production work on 'The Adventures of Cliff Booth', starring 'Brad Pitt', due for release on Nov. 25, and has started preparing his next project, 'Bitterroot'.