The reported cancellation follows a lengthy production process
Squid Game: America reportedly stalled after spending an extended period in development without a public production announcement from Netflix.
Reports of an American adaptation first appeared in 2024, with Utopia creator Dennis Kelly attached to write and David Fincher set to direct. The project later appeared on the Film and Television Industry Alliance website in November 2025 under the title Squid Game: America, with filming listed for February 2026 in Los Angeles.
That listing suggested the project had moved closer to production, and tbreak previously covered its listed filming schedule. The latest report says Netflix has since shelved the series, although neither Netflix nor Fincher has publicly confirmed the cancellation.
The Playlist’s sources cited several reasons for the decision: the prolonged production process, changes among Netflix executives, and Fincher’s commitment to other work, including The Adventures of Cliff Booth. Those explanations come from people described as close to the project rather than an official Netflix statement.
Netflix’s reported plans have shifted towards international stories
Netflix is reportedly considering Squid Game stories set in individual international markets instead of proceeding with one American adaptation.
The report says the company’s objectives for the franchise changed after Fincher’s version was conceived. An American series was reportedly an early priority, while the current thinking favours stories developed around separate countries or markets.
That does not mean titles such as Squid Game: Brazil or Squid Game: Norway are moving forward. The Playlist’s sources reportedly stressed that no such regional productions are known to be in development, leaving the proposed strategy at the discussion stage.
Season 3’s closing moments support the idea that the Games exist beyond Korea, but they did not announce a US series or establish a direct connection to Fincher’s project. The scene therefore leaves Netflix plenty of narrative room without committing the company to a particular spinoff.
The original Squid Game story has reached its confirmed ending
Squid Game Season 3 is the finale of the original Korean series, while the franchise’s future beyond it remains unannounced.
Netflix describes Season 3 as the planned series finale and says the show will not return for Season 4 in its interview about the series ending. Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has also said that Season 3 concludes the whole show.
Hwang previously discussed a possible story covering events during the time jump between Seasons 1 and 2, but Netflix has not announced that project either. With Fincher’s American adaptation now reportedly shelved, the only firm position is that the original series is complete. Any country-specific continuation remains an idea rather than a confirmed addition to Netflix’s slate.
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