The reality show Squid Game: The Challenge, based on the extremely popular Korean dystopian drama, is currently being filmed in the UK, and players are experiencing some frigid temperatures. Some contestants allegedly required medical attention on Monday while filming the “Red Light, Green Light” game as the UK's temperature dropped below freezing. Netflix has denied these claims, but fans are nonetheless concerned.
News reports of injuries on the Squid Game: The Challenge set started popping up online early Tuesday, and fans of the original series immediately started sharing their concerns on social media. The reality show is based on Squid Game, the Netflix series that took the world by storm, and the game “Red Light, Green Light” is one that was played in the show's first episode. The reality show seems to be recreating this game, but it wasn’t a large animatronic doll shooting lasers from its eyes that seemingly caused the injuries; it was the freezing temperatures.
Some of the contestants participating in Squid Game: The Challenge claimed to have been feeling “unwell and experienced frostbite,” according to a Deadline report (via The Sun). The rules of the "Red Light, Green Light" game are simple: When the giant animatronic doll is looking away and singing its iconic Korean phrase, which roughly translates to “Hibiscus flower has bloomed,” players are allowed to move. But, as soon as it stops singing and turns around to look at them, players must remain still to win the round. It is similar to a game of freeze tag, but in this case, the participants were standing outdoors in the freezing cold, and five of them allegedly required medical attention on set.
However, Netflix has denied any reports of injuries on the set of Squid Game: The Challenge. A statement was issued to the press, reading, “We care deeply about the health and safety of our cast and crew, and invested in all the appropriate safety procedures. While it was very cold on set - and participants were prepared for that - any claims of serious injury are untrue.” Apart from the five players who reportedly fell ill due to the cold, one contestant seemingly injured their shoulder after accidentally running into a wall. However, Netflix has assured the media that none of the contestants had to be “stretchered off the premises.”
Squid Game: The Challenge is possibly one of the most anticipated non-scripted titles produced by Netflix. The series will ride the wave of popularity achieved by Squid Game. The reality series will have a large cast of 456 real players, each entering the game to win a massive cash prize of $4.56 million.
Squid Game: The Challenge is in production at Netflix.