Netflix recently released season 2 of its popular series Squid Games. We already know that a US version is in the works, and David Fincher is involved with the project. Although details surrounding the project have been kept under wraps, it doesn't make the fan theories any less enjoyable. As a result, I share my dream casting for the US version of Squid Games.
Hwang Dong-hyuk mentioned he would love to see Leonardo DiCaprio in a future show season, but could he be satisfied with him being one of the leads in the US version? As much as I love DiCaprio, I don't see him as one of the characters I would cast in the movie. Here is my dream casting for each of the principal roles.
Squid Game: Casting the American Movie Remake
Ethan Hawk as Seong Gi-Hun
Seong Gi-hun is an unlucky father desperate to build a better life for his family. I teetered at the idea of Hugh Grant here because of his electric performance in Heretic. Instead, I landed on Ethan Hawk because he would fit this role brilliantly. Hawke is a recognizable face and could easily lead the series.
Daniel Kaluuya as Cho Sang-Woo
Cho Sang-woo seemed nice on the surface, but the web of lies within his life caused Sang-woo to be a cerebral assassin within the game. Imagine Daniel Kuulaya's stone-cold faces from Widows and bring them to the brutal and ruthless moments we get from Cho Sang-woo. This, to me, is PERFECT casting.
Cailee Spaeny as Kang Sae-Byeok
Kang Sae-byeok, a North Korean defector who joins Gi-hun and Sang-woo's group despite being a lone wolf, shows empathy in the more challenging moments of season one. Spaeny impressed me with her performance in Civil War, and that's why I believe she'd be perfect in this role.
Diego Calvo as Ali Abdul
Compassionate and selfless, Ali Abdul became a fan-favorite after harming himself to save his teammates despite having a family he needed to provide for. Diego Calvo was brilliant in the lead role in Babylon and would be perfect as Abdul.
Jason Isaacs as Oh Il-Nam
Isaacs might not be "old enough" to play the role of Oh Il-Nam. However, that's why we have makeup and technology to enhance these types of roles. The battle with the brain tumor made Oh Il-Nam a liability, and Isaacs could deliver a fantastic portrayal.
Selena Gomez as Ji-Yeong
When I was doing my research for casting the American version of Squid Game, I saw that Selena Gomez was a popular choice as Ji-yeong. I couldn't agree more that this is a brilliant choice. If you watched her performance in Emilia Perez, she showed true range and would be great in this role.
Jeremy Strong as Jang Deok-Su
Honestly, this might be one of the hardest ones I battled with in deciding who I would want to be in this role. At first, Michael Shannon comes to mind, and he would be perfect. Then, I thought about Joaquin Phoenix, but I'm not sure this is something he would do. So, I thought of an off-the-wall one with Jeremy Strong. Jang Deok-Su was a ruthless, demanding killer, and I would love to see Strong take on the part.
The Frontman
The gaming warden might be the most important piece of casting in the series. You have to have someone with a commanding presence that will demand respect. If you watched Shogun, Hiroyuki Sanada's performance was nothing short of perfection. He is a leader and would be perfect as Lord Yoshii Toranaga