Netflix’s biggest show is heading stateside. According to a trade listing spotted in reporting around the project, Squid Games: America is lined up to start filming very soon this year in Los Angeles.
If that holds, it’s the first properly specific production update we have had in a while.
- A production listing points to Feb 2026 as the filming start date for Squid Games: America
- The same listing places production in Los Angeles, California
- David Fincher is linked to the project
What’s actually been pinned down so far
The most useful bit is simple: a date and a place.
- Filming start date: 26 February 2026
- Location: Los Angeles, California
- Working title: Squid Game: America
That date matters because it tells you one thing right away: this isn’t “coming next month”. If cameras only roll in late February 2026, you’re looking at a long road through filming, editing, music, dubbing, and the usual Netflix machine before anything lands on your home screen in the UAE.
If you want to keep tabs on what’s arriving on the platform locally, bookmark our New on Netflix UAE hub and check it when Netflix finally starts teasing this properly.
Who’s attached (and why people care)
Yes, Fincher is the headline. He’s known for dark, controlled thrillers, so the tone feels like a match on paper.
- David Fincher is listed as involved, per reporting tied to the production listing
- Dennis Kelly is named as writer in the same listing coverage
- Hwang Dong-hyuk and Kim Ji-yeon are also listed as producers alongside other names
What this does not give us: a confirmed cast list that feels final. Some coverage notes only limited casting info on the listing at the time.
Is it a remake, or something else?
The key wording floating around is that it’s set in the same world, but shows how the games work in America.
- Described as a US version of the Korean hit series
- Framed as seeing how the games are handled in America
That may sound like a remake, but the phrasing also leaves room for a spin-off approach (same universe, different setup). Either way, the obvious risk is repeating the same shock beats with different accents. The obvious upside is using a new setting to say something sharper about money, class, and desperation — the stuff Squid Game was always really about.
What this means for viewers in the UAE
If the February 2026 start date is real, the main takeaway is patience.
- Don’t expect a near-term release date while filming is still ahead
- Expect a slow drip of casting leaks and “Netflix refuses to comment” posts first
- When it’s finally close, it’ll show up in the UAE like any other global Netflix launch (usually same-day)
If you’re planning your watchlist week to week, our What to Watch this Week in the UAE hub is the easier way to track what’s new across Netflix, OSN+, Disney+, Prime Video, and more.