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Subscribe from just £3 Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love Try a single issue or save on a subscription Issues delivered straight to your door or device From£9.99View Best Netflix Movies Best movies on Disney Plus Movie Release Dates Best Netflix Shows Recommended reading Squid Game creator reveals that devastating finale moment wasn't in the original plan – and why it had to happen [spoiler] Drama Shows Squid Game creator originally wanted a far more uplifting ending but it was "more fitting" to end on a sad note with a "powerful message" instead Horror Shows Front Man actor Lee Byung-hun believes his Squid Game villain actually "wants Gi-hun to prove that there is hope in humanity" in season 3 Horror Shows Squid Game season 3 ending explained: who dies, what are the games and do they end, and what happens to Player 456 and the Front Man Horror Shows Netflix has spoiled the final scene of Squid Game season 3 just three days after release Horror Shows The Squid Game season 3 finale is a crushing but ultimately hopeful conclusion – and I wouldn't have it any other way Horror Shows Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk is still wondering if the season 3 ending is "good or not," but star Lee Jung-jae calls it the most "entertaining ending possible" Entertainment Horror Shows Squid Game's Front Man actor breaks down hit Netflix show's controversial final scene: "Maybe Gi-hun was right" Molly Edwards 4 July 2025 Front Man actor Lee Byung-hun has talked more about Squid Game's final scene When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Netflix) Front Man actor Lee Byung-hun has broken down the controversial final scene of Squid Game season 3. Netflix's most popular show ever ends with Player 456 sacrificing himself to save Baby 222, while the Front Man initiates a self-destruct protocol for the island and its sadistic games when his brother Jun-ho and the coast guard get too close. In the aftermath, the Front Man goes to LA to deliver what remains of Gi-hun's winnings to his daughter – then spots a recruiter, played by Cate Blanchett in a surprise cameo, playing ddakji in an alleyway with a homeless man. You may like Squid Game creator reveals that devastating finale moment wasn't in the original plan – and why it had to happen [spoiler] Squid Game creator originally wanted a far more uplifting ending but it was "more fitting" to end on a sad note with a "powerful message" instead Front Man actor Lee Byung-hun believes his Squid Game villain actually "wants Gi-hun to prove that there is hope in humanity" in season 3 "The director and I talked a lot about this scene as well. What's interesting is that when I first read the script, I had a different impression," Lee told The Hollywood Reporter of the moment. "I thought the Front Man had already known that there was another game – exactly the same – unfolding in another country. But I asked the director, just in case, and he told me, 'Please play the scene by imagining that you didn't know she was there.' This was really confusing for me, because I got a very different impression from the script and we were quite close to filming at that point. (Image credit: Netflix) "So we discussed it quite a lot, and here's the tone I decided to go for in that moment: As the series started, the Front Man had nearly no hope left in humanity – there was only a tiny little shred of goodness left in him, subconsciously," he continued. "But through his journey with Gi-hun, he was able to nurture that sliver of hope, and by the end, as his Game came to a close, he's trying to look at things differently, thinking, 'Maybe Gi-hun was right; maybe there's something still there.' "And he's trying to reach this sense of closure, and the potential for a new beginning – and then he sees this other recruiter, pulling new players into the Game," Lee added. "And now he realizes that this never ends. It's all going to just keep going. So, that sense of bitterness is the main feeling he’s experiencing in that moment. I actually wondered whether what I was trying to communicate would be delivered to viewers, so thank you for the question." Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has previously confirmed to THR that this moment isn't intended to set-up the rumored American spin-off – and he also revealed that, in another idea he had for the Squid Game season 3 ending, it would've been Gi-hun who survived to see the recruiter in LA. Squid Game season 3 is streaming on Netflix now. For more, see our Squid Game season 3 review for our verdict on the show. You can also fill out your watchlist with our guide to the best Netflix shows, or see our roundup of all the most exciting upcoming TV shows. See more TV Shows News Streaming Services Molly Edwards Social Links Navigation Deputy Entertainment Editor I'm the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. Squid Game creator reveals that devastating finale moment wasn't in the original plan – and why it had to happen [spoiler] Squid Game creator originally wanted a far more uplifting ending but it was "more fitting" to end on a sad note with a "powerful message" instead Front Man actor Lee Byung-hun believes his Squid Game villain actually "wants Gi-hun to prove that there is hope in humanity" in season 3 Squid Game season 3 ending explained: who dies, what are the games and do they end, and what happens to Player 456 and the Front Man Netflix has spoiled the final scene of Squid Game season 3 just three days after release The Squid Game season 3 finale is a crushing but ultimately hopeful conclusion – and I wouldn't have it any other way Latest in Horror Shows Alien: Earth showrunner says the new series could confirm one of the original film's longest standing mysteries Squid Game season 3 might be controversial, but it's already made history for Netflix with a record-breaking premiere An MCU-style Squid Game cinematic universe graphic has gone viral, but it's actually a really obvious fake Netflix has spoiled the final scene of Squid Game season 3 just three days after release Like the contestants themselves, Squid Game fans are almost perfectly divided on season 3, calling it either "the best series of my life" or "the worst show I've ever seen" To mark Resident Evil's 30th anniversary, a free-to-watch fan-made web series with the original cast is heading to YouTube Latest in News Marvel Rivals is reheating more of Overwatch's nachos with a romance-themed season that's in a position to out-thirsty Blizzard We're not getting a Guardians of the Galaxy-style soundtrack in Superman, but James Gunn has made the next best thing: a Spotify playlist for Clark Kent: "I haven't had more fun this year" New Chainsaw Man trailer sees Denji caught in an explosive love triangle as one of the year's most anticipated anime movies gets a full first look Hideo Kojima's fabled USB stick full of ideas contingency plan has been put aside, as it was actually put in place during a 2020 health scare long before Death Stranding 2's release One Superman actor reveals a Krypto scene was cut because it did "really bad" in test screenings, but they were "pissed" it was left out GTA 6 will "remain" the most expensive game ever, former Rockstar dev predicts, because GTA 7 will see the "bulk of the work" replaced by AI GAME REVIEWS MOVIE REVIEWS Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse" Rematch review: "As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic" Tron: Catalyst review: "Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I'm let down by a time-loop story that falls flat" FBC: Firebreak review: "A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that's missing far too much of what made Control special" Dune: Awakening review: "Both extremely compelling and extraordinarily boring, sometimes at the same time – yet still a true Dune love letter" Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber" M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion" 28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy” Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation" From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: "Brilliant action, even if the plot gives you a sense of déjà vu" Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever" Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era" Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date" Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling" Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision GamesRadar+ is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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