‘Squid Game’ makes SAG Awards history as first foreign-language TV nominee
Netflix's blockbuster original show "Squid Game" has made history at the 2022 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards as the first non-English-language series and first Korean series to score a nomination. The show is up for outstanding cast in a drama series opposite "Succession," "Yellowstone," "The Morning Show" and "The Handmaid's Tale." It also picked up nominations for actor in a drama series (Lee Jung-jae), actress in a drama series (Jung Ho-yeon), and stunt ensemble.
Since premiering on Netflix in September 2021, "Squid Game" has emerged as a global phenomenon. The drama pulled in 1.65 billion hours of viewing during its first four weeks of release, surpassing "Bridgerton" as the most-watched Netflix original series in history. The show landed three Golden Globe awards, including best television drama, and earned O Yeong-su a supporting actor prize. "Squid Game" also boasts three Critics Choice Awards nominations and a Gotham Award win for breakthrough series.
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk has said that since the release of "Squid Game", the cast and crew have experienced many surprising events, but getting nominated for the SAG Awards in four categories is one of the most surprising, and happiest moments they have experienced.
South Korean entertainment has made great strides at the SAG Awards over the last few years. Bong Joon Ho's drama film "Parasite" won the 2020 SAG Award for cast in a motion picture, becoming the first non-English-language film ensemble to win the top prize. At last year's SAG Awards, "Minari" favourite Youn Yuh-jung became the first Korean actress to ever win the supporting prize.
With major nominations at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards and Critics Choice Awards, "Squid Game" is positioning itself as a major Emmy contender later this year. Netflix has yet to officially announce a second season of the hit show, but Hwang Dong-hyuk has teasedthat he already has a few ideas up his sleeve for where the show goes next.
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