He then gestured towards Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos, adding, “Thank you, Ted.”
Spielberg’s statements were a part of the panel’s discussion on whether it was important to cast well-known actors in lead roles in order to create successful projects.
However, his comments have caused outrage online, with many pointing out that the Squid Game lead actor, Lee Jung-jae, was one of South Korea’s biggest stars and has starred in many critically acclaimed films.
One commented online exclaimed that they were “so irked by Seven Spielberg’s comments”, adding that “we Americans need to look at the world around us & stop being so full of ourselves.”
Another called Spielberg’s remarks “a poor choice of words”, while somebody else wrote, “you’d think that somebody like spielberg [sic] would do his homework or AT LEAST be respectful.”
The furore comes months after Netflix confirmed that Squid Game would be returning for a second series, with Sarandos saying that a second season was being fast-tracked into development.
Hwang Dong-hyuk, who directed the first season, also confirmed that he would be returning and hinted that at the fate of the Front Man.
“It’s like Darth Vader. Some [winners] end up Jedi and some become Darth Vader, right? I think that maybe Gi-hun will go through a certain critical point where he is put through a test as well.”
