Squid Game returning this December, will end in 2025

It's been three years. Do you want to play again?

After more than three years of waiting, one of Netflix's biggest shows will finally return later this year. The streaming service revealed that Squid Game season 2 will premiere on December 26, and the show will also return for a third and final season, expected in 2025.

In addition to a press release, Netflix shared a letter written by series director, writer, and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk. In his letter, he teases what's to come in the show as Seong Gi-hun leads him to join the game yet again to confront the villainous Front Man.

"The fierce clash between their two worlds will continue into the series finale with Season 3, which will be brought to you next year."

Set three years after Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), or Player 456 as he's also known, beat the game, season 2 picks up with Gi-hun trying to track down the people behind Squid Game to put a permanent end to the cruelty. Unfortunately for Gi-hun, his journey leads him toward the heart of the organization, and the only way to take it down is to re-enter the game.

Here's the official synopsis for season 2, shared by Netflix:

"Three years after winning Squid Game, Player 456 remains determined to find the people behind the game and put an end to their vicious sport. Using this fortune to fund his search, Gi-hun starts with the most obvious of places: look for the man in a sharp suit playing ddakji in the subway. But when his efforts finally yield results, the path toward taking down the organization proves to be deadlier than he imagined: to end the game, he needs to re-enter it."

The streamer also released a date announcement/teaser video ahead of season 2 that shows what is likely one of the new games. A bunch of people are lined up on a track, and several are seen collapsing as they sprint, likely dead. After showing the date and revealing the incoming final trailer, the video gives us a glimpse of Young-hee, or The Doll, from the Red Light, Green Light game in season 1, suggesting she's returning.

Squid Game made history at the 74th Emmy Award when Dong-hyuk became the first Asian to win Outstanding Director for a Drama Series. He's returning for the show's second season as director, writer, and producer. In total, the show's debut season garnered 14 Emmy nominations, with Jung-jae also winning an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo reprise their roles from season 1 as Gi-hun, the Front Man, Hwang Jun-ho (which suggests he survived getting shot), and the salesman, respectively.

They will be joined by new cast members including Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Jo Yu-ri, and Won Ji-an.

Squid Game season 2 premieres on Netflix on December 26.