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Netflix will not move forward with David Fincher's long-in-development "Squid Game" spinoff, according to sources familiar with the matter. The project had carried the working title "Heckler."
The American adaptation, long anticipated as a vehicle for the acclaimed director, had been expected to anchor a broader international franchise built around Netflix's biggest Korean hit.
Sources say Netflix's approach to the franchise has changed direction, with the streamer now favoring spinoffs built for specific international markets rather than one flagship English-language series.
Hwang Dong-hyuk's original series wrapped up after three seasons in 2025, though Netflix has kept the franchise going through the unscripted competition spin-off "Squid Game: The Challenge."
The series, internally known as "Heckler," had brought on Dennis Kelly, creator of "Utopia," to write the script. Their working relationship as executive producers actually goes back years, to an earlier HBO adaptation of the same show, ''Utopia,'' that collapsed over budget issues before it could go into production.
In 2024, Fincher began developing an English-language "Squid Game" series for Netflix, with suggestions at the time that it could become his primary focus in 2025. Later production listings pointed to a possible 2026 start date for filming, though Netflix never officially confirmed the series, its title, or any production timeline.
Fincher's packed schedule likely contributed to the project's uncertain fate as well. He has since finished production on "The Adventures of Cliff Booth," a sequel to Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" starring Brad Pitt.
With the film expected to hit Netflix in December, his attention appears to have moved on from the "Squid Game" spinoff.
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