US Business News

Carole Baskin Sues Netflix for Including Footage of Her in Tiger King 2

Source: Netflix

Carol Baskin filed a lawsuit against streaming giant Netflix for using footage of her in the platform’s upcoming series Tiger King 2, a documentary on big cat breeding and the unusual practices that are tied to it. Baskin is an American big cat rights activist who is also the CEO of Big Cat Rescue, a non-profit animal sanctuary located in Tampa, Florida. 

Baskin filed the lawsuit on Monday in Tampa, Florida, against Netflix and the production company Royal Goode Productions. Based on the information cited in the lawsuit, Baskin claims that the production company breached the contract by continuing to use her footage for the second part of the docuseries. According to her, she and her husband only signed appearance release forms for the first Tiger King. 

“Understanding that the Appearance Releases limited Royal Goode Productions’ use of the footage of the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue to the single, initial documentary motion picture, the Baskins believed that any sequel—though odious—would not include any of their footage” the legal document stated.

The Baskins were shocked to find out that footage of them was still part of Tiger King 2. “The Appearance Releases limited Royal Goode Productions’ right to use film footage of the Baskins to ‘a documentary motion picture.’ Throughout the Appearance Releases, there is only reference to and mention of ‘the Picture.’ No mention is made of granting Royal Goode Production sequel rights, rights to create derivative works from ‘the Picture’ or additional seasons or episodes,” the lawsuit reads. “By utilizing the film footage of the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue secured by Royal Goode Productions under the Appearance Releases in ‘sizzle reels’ and promotional trailers for the sequel entitled Tiger King 2, the Defendants are in breach of the terms of the Appearance Releases.”

The lawsuit also reflects Baskin’s disapproval and hesitations about the docuseries. She alleges that the project was originally supposed to be an exposé similar to the Blackfish, a documentary film that exposed the controversy surrounding killer whales in captivity. 

Tiger King 1 was particularly harsh and unfair in its depiction of the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue. The ‘Tiger King 1’ series wrongly attempted to suggest that Big Cat Rescue abused its animals by keeping them in very small cages while not making clear that the animals actually reside in expansive enclosures,” the lawsuit further stated. “Also, Tiger King 1 incorrectly suggests an equivalency between Big Cat Rescue and Joe Exotic’s roadside zoo, and more broadly that there is no difference between roadside zoos that exploit and mistreat animals and accredited sanctuaries that rescue and provide excellent lifetime care to the animals. Perhaps most pernicious is the overarching implication in Tiger King 1 that Carole Baskin was involved in the disappearance of her first husband in 1997.”

Up to this day, Baskin maintains that she had no hand in the disappearance of her former husband. Netflix is set to release Tiger King 2 this coming November 17. The streaming giant remained mum about the lawsuit and refused to give any comment at the moment. 

Google Home and Amazon Echo Can Record Your Voice and This Information Can be Used Against You

Image commercially licensed from: Unsplash

In the 1999 Disney original, smart house, a teenage boy wins a futuristic home for him and his family and this house was fully equipped with an AI system that served as their assistant/butler. It prepares coffee for them before they wake up in the morning, cleans, and plays with the family dog and plays music specific to the mood at the time.

Fast forward 18 years, and what is science fiction in the 90s is now a reality today. Of course, this reality is excluding the ability of the smart house to become self-aware and try to hold the household hostage. However, the general trends of technology are going towards the AI-powered smart homes that continually learn what your preferences are over time. Welcome to the Amazon Echo and Google Home.

It will surprise you what these devices can do and perhaps even more surprising is the laws surrounding its use and what can be done with the information it collects. Recently a judge ordered Amazon to turn over the recordings that an amazon echo device made in a double homicide case in New Hampshire where two women were stabbed fatally in January of 2017. Prosecutors submitted that the smart home assistants may have recorded the incident and will be able to shed more light on the murder. Amazon refused to release any information until a valid legal demand was served.

There was another case popular in 2015 where amazon echo data was needed in yet another murder investigation where prosecutors believed that the device must have recorded the events leading up to the discovery of the body in a hot tub. The defendant voluntarily turned in the data and the charges were dropped as there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute.

This begs the question that if smart home devices are always listening, why the data from the 2015 case couldn’t offer any clarity to the investigation. This is a common misconception with the smart devices. They aren’t actively listening to you at all times as many would suggest but rater they are always in a passive listening mode where they only activate at the mention of specific keywords known as wake words. Words such as Alexa, okay google, etc.  All other words that they hear before this wake word is constantly discarded and not uploaded to the cloud.

If you are not so comfortable with the device being able to store information about you, you can request for the option where it listens to you but it permanently deletes all recordings that might have been made. If you’re area Google home user, for instance, you can click on your google account and beneath your profile, click on manage google activity, then go to my activity. You can delete all activity and all stored queries by selecting “Delete activity by” and then select “all time”. This deletes all of the information it has collected over a period of time.

2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Releases Inductees for the Year

Image commercially licensed from: Unsplash

For its 37th year, the annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has proudly announced its most diverse set of inductees by far. The iconic induction ceremony is set to take place on October 31st at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.

As is customary, the inductees were chosen by an international voting body of over 1,200 individuals such as artists, current living inductees, historians, and other vital music industry members. This year, there are a total of six inductees who have made it into the Hall of Fame. In addition, five other remarkable individuals will be awarded in the event.

“What’s Love Got to Do with It” singer and beloved Queen of Rock’ n’ Roll Tina Turner is among the six impressive music acts who have made the cut. Joining her is Carole King, who is hailed as the most celebrated and iconic singer-songwriter of all time.

Hip-hop icon Shawn Carter, popularly known as Jay-Z, American multi-instrumentalist Todd Rundgren, rock bands The Go-Go’s, and Foo Fighters will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Three notable acts will be given the Early Influence Award as recognition for their groundbreaking and innovative contributions to the music industry. The first one is the German band Kraftwerk, which is considered as the pioneers of electronic music. The Father of the Delta Blues Charley Patton will also be posthumously awarded alongside the late musician and poet Gil Scott-Heron.

Grammy Award-winning rapper LL Cool J, R&B singer Billy Preston, and heavy metal guitarist Randy Rhoads will all receive the Musical Excellence Award.

Finally, music executive and film producer Clarence Avant has been chosen as the recipient of the Ahmet Ertegun Award, which is given to non-performing professionals who have made significant contributions to the industry.

The upcoming induction ceremony is creating a buzz as it returns to its live format this year. In addition, it is expected to be a star-studded event that will be attended by A-list celebrities, including the biggest names in the music industry.

Legendary artists such as Paul McCartney, Lionel Richie, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, and actors Drew Barrymore and Angela Bassett will be part of the ceremony as presenters. In addition, Christina Aguilera, Mickey Guyton, H.E.R., and Bryan Adams will also appear on the show, performing the hits of newly inducted Hall of Famer Tina Turner.

People both from outside and within the music scene have lauded this year’s inductees as well as praised the selection committee. At the same time, many are hopeful that this year’s inductees will set a precedent for a more inclusive and diverse future in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, John Sykes, confidently echoed the same sentiments and said, “This diverse class of talented Inductees reflects the Rock Hall’s ongoing commitment to honor artists whose music created the sound of youth culture. It will make for an unforgettable live celebration of music in October at this year’s Induction Ceremony in Cleveland.”

Chris Pratt Is Set to Voice Garfield in a New Animated Film

Source: Variety

Chris Pratt has been on a roll lately, booking gigs to voice the world’s most iconic characters in recently announced animated films. In a recent Nintendo Direct, the Guardians Of The Galaxy actor was cast in an upcoming Super Mario Bros. animated film, alongside  Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, and many more.

Pratt will play the iconic video game plumber alongside Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach. The film also features Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek, and Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike. 

This time around, Chris Pratt has officially been cast as the titular lasagna-loving, Monday-hating cat in a new film from Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson’s Alcon Entertainment. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the script for Garfield is being written by David Reynolds, famous for writing Finding Nemo. The film will also be directed by Mark Dindal, who directed Chicken Little. The pair previously worked together on Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove. Garfield creator Jim Davis will also serve as an executive producer, which means this upcoming film is in good hands.

The last time Garfield appeared on the silver screen was back in 2006 in the film Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, the sequel to the 2004 film simply entitled Garfield. In both movies, Bill Murray voiced the titular character to great audience reception. As the announcement was officially made, Pratt also shared an image of Garfield on Instagram captioned, “Well, this Monday doesn’t suck.”

Fortunately, Chris Pratt is no stranger to voice roles in animated films. In the last few years, he has starred in Pixar’s Onward voicing Barley Lightfoot, the brother and  deuteragonist to Tom Holland’s Ian Lightfoot.

Pratt also voiced Emmet in The Lego Movie films, which also gained him critical and audience acclaim for his witty voice work. 

Whatever the film’s story is, it will be brought to life by DNEG Animation, the studio behind Ron’s Gone Wrong. In the meantime, Pratt has been keeping busy with leading live-action roles in The Tomorrow War and Jurassic World: Dominion

Garfield fans have taken to their various social media accounts to display their widely polarized opinions regarding Pratt’s casting, as with the recent Super Mario Bros. casting that was announced.  Pratt himself, however, has said that “it’s a dream come true” to be playing the part of Mario in the upcoming 2022 film, remembering his childhood years spent playing the original Super Mario Bros game on an arcade machine.

As for the role of Garfield, it’s clear to see that he’s also a big fan of the lazy orange cat, and it’s looking like he’s going to do a mighty fine job in the role. He has shown some promise and talent in the field of voice acting, and it’s looking like casting directors are placing a lot of faith in him and his track record.

There is no release date set for Alcon Entertainment and Sony Pictures’ Garfield yet, so make sure to stay tuned for updates as they come in. 

Highly Respected Keith Ross Nelson Talks Putting a Smile on People’s Faces and Inspiring Today’s Go-Getters

The power of laughter cannot be underscored enough. Not only does it strengthen people’s immune systems and protect them from the debilitating effects of stress, but it’s also an essential tool for establishing social bonds, maintaining relationships, and increasing intimacy. Keith Ross Nelson, a multi-faceted figure best known for his rib-cracking jokes, has always been intimately privy to the value humor could bring to people’s lives. Armed with this awareness, he’s spent the past three decades putting a smile on people’s faces. Currently, he continues to liven up any stage he graces, sparking joy among audiences and serving as an example for other aspiring comedians to follow. 

An athlete, martial artist, and stand-up comedian, Keith Ross Nelson is a man of many talents. In 1998, he bagged the silver medal for high jumping at the World Masters Championships and would hold the record in his age group from 2000 to 2007. Additionally, the three-time national champion proved that he’s not slowing down anytime soon by acquiring a third-degree black belt in Kung Fu at the age of forty-five. 

But it wasn’t solely his achievements as a decorated athlete that define the Keith Ross Nelson of today. Above anything else, it was the thirty years he dedicated to making people laugh that propelled him toward the limelight and endeared him to countless individuals across all fifty states. Widely acclaimed in the field, the passion-driven personality has stood before the crowd in different settings, from comedy clubs and college events to cruise ships and live shows in places like Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Afghanistan, Guam, and more. 

Throughout his career, Keith Ross Nelson kept going all-out in mastering his craft and refining his comedic skills, an awe-inspiring degree of determination that allowed him to emerge as an industry standout with a reputation for making people roll out of their seats in boisterous laughter. Thanks to his hard work and innate talents, he managed to secure numerous roles and rise through the ranks as a versatile artist who can act as well as write, produce, and direct films, television shows, and events. 

So far, Keith Ross Nelson has hogged the spotlight in various projects, including the hit movies The R.M, Mobsters, and Mormons. Moreover, thousands had the opportunity to be acquainted with his arsenal of skills through his appearances in shows like Hulu Comedy Shows Comedy Time and Comedy Express and his role as one of the main characters in the 2018 television series Not For Nothin’. 

Having reached so many milestones, the Portland Comedy Competition winner wouldn’t have surprised anyone if he decided to sit back after over thirty years of dominating stages. But instead of taking it slow, Keith Ross Nelson is eager to keep his momentum going and solidify his position in the industry even further. Right now, apart from prompting laughter and brightening up every room he enters, he is also capitalizing on his story to stand as a beacon of hope for aspiring comedians.

Keith  can be found on Instagram @Keithrossnelson. He can also be found on his website link http://www.keithrossnelson.org.

Adele Announces Two-Hour TV Special Ahead of 30, Her Upcoming Album

Source: Billboard

The music scene is home to some of the world’s brightest stars and most talented individuals. With how saturated the industry is with brilliant artists and outstanding musicians, it comes as no surprise that fans from across the globe are always up on their toes with the latest news about their favorite idols. Since the release of her latest single, “Easy On Me,” last October 15, Adele has been creating a significant buzz all over the world. 

Aside from her long-awaited album 30, Adele will be presenting Adele: One Night Only, a primetime special welcoming back the industry powerhouse as she graces back into the music scene. The TV special will feature an extraordinary concert performance that includes the earliest opportunity to hear her first new material in six years. With so much to look forward to, fans worldwide could not stay still as they let out their excitement across different social media platforms. 

The TV special Adele: One Night Only will be aired by CBS on November 14, 2021, exactly five days before the release of her fourth album, 30.  It will also showcase renditions of Adele’s classics, as well as an interview conducted by Oprah Winfrey from her rose garden. It airs from 8:30-10:30 p.m. Eastern and is available for live streaming on Paramount+. To be filmed in Los Angeles, the special will include several of Adele’s hits as well as several new songs.

On top of that, Adele: One Night Only will also feature an exclusive interview with Adele by Oprah Winfrey from her rose garden. According to an announcement, the superstar’s first televised wide-ranging conversation will tackle discussions about her new album, the stories behind the songs, life after divorce, weight loss, and raising her son.

The show is produced by Fulwell 73 Productions and Onward Productions in association with Harpo Productions, whose executive producers are Late Late Show With James Corden producer Ben Winston, who also shepherded the 2021 Grammy Awards; Adele; her manager Jonathan Dickins; and Raj Kapoor.

In announcing the album last week, Adele compared the album to something like having a friend during “the most turbulent period of my life,” a time in which she married, divorced, and raised her now nine-year-old son.

“When I was writing it, it was my friend who came over with a bottle of wine and a takeaway to cheer me up,” Adele wrote. “My wise friend who always gives the best advice. Not to forget the one who’s wild and says, ‘It’s your Saturn return, babes fuck it, you only live once.’ The friend who’d stay up all night and just hold my hand while I’d sob relentlessly, not knowing why. The get-up-and-go friend who would pick me up and take me somewhere I said I didn’t want to go but just wanted to get me out the house for some vitamin D,” the singer added.

“That friend who snuck in and left a magazine with a face mask and some bath salts to make me feel loved while inadvertently reminding me not only what month it actually was but that I should probably exercise some self-care! And then that friend who, no matter what, checked in on me even though I’d stopped checking in with them because I’d become so consumed by my own grief. I’ve painstakingly rebuilt my house and my heart since then, and this album narrates it,” Adele further disclosed.

Adele’s 30 is out the Friday after the TV special and will feature unparalleled writing and production from the likes of Greg Kurstin, Inflo, Max Martin, Shellback, Ludwig Göransson, and Tobias Jesso Jr.

You Season 3 Shows Joe Playing House

Source: Vulture

You Season 3 has come a long way, becoming popular enough to unseat Korea’s record-breaking series, Squid Game, from the top spot. 

Ever since the show began streaming on Netflix, people have not been able to stop talking about it. With the brilliance of its season 3, it continues to dominate the scenes, starring familiar faces, such as Gossip Girl’s Penn Badgley and modern scream queen Victoria Pedretti.

While the show has consistently shown promise throughout the seasons, the third installment of the thriller series has had everyone on their toes, as it follows Joe Goldberg and Love Quinn’s married life with their new baby.

Unsurprisingly, Joe Goldberg, who is played by Penn Badgley, is still unable to curb his impulses to fall in love with the first woman he sees in the third season, but things have become infinitely more complicated by the fact that he is married to his wife, Love, played by Victoria Pedretti, who is also a murderer.

Although both characters are institutionalized as brilliant murderers in this creepy thriller series, Joe and Love have different reasons for doing so. Joe’s singular love-based obsession is less nuanced than Love’s, leading the viewers to root for the lesser evil in a series that is filled with terrible people. “I found myself rooting for Love Quinn throughout the season, desperate to see her outwit Joe and make it out alive,” shared one viewer. “Love is a brilliant character, to begin with,” he added.

While many viewers have expressed their support towards Love Quinn’s triumph, the thrilling conclusion of the highly acclaimed season has led to the demise of a brilliant character. Joe Goldberg not only killed Love at the end of You season 3, but he also chopped off his own toes and burned their house down so that he could conveniently frame Love as the murderous femme fatale of Madre Linda. The finale then shows Joe living his life in the City of Light: Paris.

Although Paris may be a fitting end to the Joe and Love era as it signifies a fresh beginning, Joe is actually searching for his latest love interest in the city, Marienne, who is played by Tati Gabrielle. After receiving a chilling warning from Love, Marienne took her daughter and fled the suburbs. Joe, determined as ever, heads to Paris with a purpose-driven goal of finding her in mind. “All I know, mon amour, is I will search the world if I have to,” he vows as he struts past unknowing Parisians with the Eiffel Tower looming fuzzily in the distance behind the murderous personality.

The finale does not give much away of what is yet to come in You’s upcoming installment, but the last episode of the third season reveals that Joe goes by the name Nick now while becoming more comfortable in walking the streets and visiting a buzzing cafe with a baseball cap on. With this newly-gained freedom and a renewed identity, more can be expected from You in the seasons to come.

Tour Dates for The Weeknd Pushed Back

Source: NME

When the pandemic spread across the globe last year, many industries had to adjust to protocols, forcing some businesses to close shop while entertainers like musicians had to hold off on tours. After a year, the concert industry was finally revived, giving artists the chance to perform for their fans. The Weeknd, who was initially set to go on tour in the middle of last year, has had to reschedule. When news of his “After Hours” tour started to circulate, fans were once again ecstatic to experience the thrill of blinding lights again. However, the “Hills” artist has announced his decision to reschedule his tour to next year.

Although he had been making music in 2010, The Weeknd (whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye) rose to prominence in the mid 2010s following a string of hits like “The Hills,” “Often,” and “Earned It,” which was featured in the 50 Shades of Gray official soundtrack. Since then, he has won countless awards and become a leader in the contemporary music scene. Recognizable for his palm tree dreadlocks, The Weeknd would later abandon his trademark hair. Despite the change, the “Hills” artist remained consistent in his music development.

The Grammy-winning artist first returned to the grand stage earlier this year at the Super Bowl and started releasing new tracks in the following months after releasing his After Hours album in 2020. Although he initially had a tour coming up that would have taken him gracing the stage throughout the United States, The Weeknd bumped his tour to the summer of 2022, expanding on a global tour to include Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. 

Although The Weeknd didn’t elaborate on his decision, the reschedule can be pinned down to the current situation of the pandemic as safety precautions in the United States continue to be shaky. With inconsistency in the social-distancing protocol, it can be challenging to hold arena tours, especially as music festivals and other events are getting organized. The Weeknd changing the tour dates is not only a show of concern for the safety of his audience but also allows him to prepare a bigger presentation for them. With the tour set for next year, he hopes that the open air can alleviate concerns regarding mass gatherings. 

“The ‘After Hours’ tour dates are moving and will commence in the Summer of 2022 due to constraints of arenas and the desire to do something bigger and special for fans that will require stadiums,” the artist stated on his social media pages. “New dates forthcoming. Current tickets will be refunded automatically and all ticketholders will be given priority to buy tickets for the stadium shows when they go on sale.”

Recently, The Weeknd officially changed his 2022 tour’s name to “After Hours ‘Til Dawn” on his Instagram page. Fans have speculated that the change is a reflection of the theme and teases his upcoming new album, something he has been hinting this year. They were treated to a new single titled “Take My Breath” in August, fueling fans’ excitement and anticipation. 

Disney Announces Delays to 2022 Marvel Films

Source: Manila Bulletin

Disney has recently recalibrated its movie release calendar, with several Marvel Cinematic Universe films being delayed. While many would assume that the global health crisis might have something to do with this, a news article written by Variety reports that the delay is due to a production-related snowball effect, affecting the film slate for the year 2022 and beyond. As a result, Marvel fans may have to wait a little longer to see their favorite films on screen.

On the list of delayed releases of upcoming MCU films, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has been moved from March 25, 2022, to May 6, 2022, while Thor: Love and Thunder is set to be shown on screen on July 8, 2022. Additionally, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s release has also been moved to a later date, from July 8 to November 11 of the same year. With the Black Panther sequel jumping to November, The Marvels has been postponed to early 2023, while the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has been bumped from February 17 to July 28, 2023.

Aside from the deluge of MCU delays, Disney has also moved the fifth installment of Indiana Jones up to nearly a year from its original release date. The still-untitled film, which features Harrison Ford as a daring archaeologist in brown hues, is set to open on June 30, 2023, instead of July 29, 2022.

This tremendous shift came after the record-breaking success of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of The Ten Rings, becoming a box office hit film amid the pandemic era. However, reputable sources at Disney have confirmed that the significant scheduling overhaul is related to the films’ productions and not box office returns. As a matter of fact, the Black Panther sequel is still filming in Atlanta.

Because MCU has become an interconnected and meticulously planned universe, any production delay of one of the films can cause a domino effect on the franchise. If one has experienced delays during its filming stages, then fans have to expect late releases of the franchise’s upcoming films. On the other hand, the still-untitled Indiana Jones film was delayed due to Harrison Ford’s shoulder injury. Although the film’s director, James Mangold, continued filming some scenes without Ford, the movie requires a bulk of the star’s appearance as the story of Indiana Jones highly revolves around the adventurer. 

While some of the MCU films have received delayed launches, others, which are largely untitled movies, have been removed from the calendar. However, one untitled Marvel movie was relocated from November 10 to November 3, 2023.

The global health crisis has truly shaken up the industry. After releasing Black Widow starring Scarlett Johansson, 101 Dalmatians’ prequel Cruella, and animated film Raya and the Last Dragon on Disney Plus on the same day as their respective premieres in theaters, Disney has gone back to its commitment to the big screens with the remaining movies of 2021 set to play exclusively in theaters for 45 days before launching them Disney’s digital platform. For 2022 and beyond, the studio has not cemented any plans yet.

Squid Game Takes 1st Place: The Korean Series Wins Big

Image commercially licensed from: Unsplash

As the pandemic continues to rampant, people continue to follow safety protocols, spending time at home and only going out for groceries. With more time in their hands, many have tuned to streaming sites to keep themselves distracted from all the terrible news on the outside world. In the past month, one show in particular has caught the world’s attention, Squid Game

Squid Game is a South Korean series that falls into a similar category as The Hunger Games, Running Man, and the Japanese hit film Battle Royale. The premise of the show revolves around a contest that has 456 players competing to win the cash prize of 45.6 billion Won. While initially seeming like an easy task, the players soon realize that the penalty is death. 

The series follows a Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), a divorced and indebted chauffeur, who wins a game of ddjaki against a man in suit at a train station. The man offers him the opportunity to win so much more. Debt-ridden, Gi-hun eventually accepts the invitation and gets knocked unconscious upon following instructions for a rendezvous. He awakens in a dormitory with 455 other players, each one numbered by their tracksuits. It is revealed that all the participants are also in difficult financial situations. After the masked staff arrive, the instructions are relayed: they can win the prize after winning six games in a span of six days. Gi-hun and the other players are then taken to the first game, and they soon realize that it isn’t as easy as they thought.

Released on September 17, Squid Game is a Netflix series that has taken the world by storm. Since its release, the series has become Korea’s first show to hit the top trending spots in the United States. Although it is one of the most successful shows on the platform today, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk had difficulty getting his creation greenlit by studios. 

At the time, Hwang Dong-hyuk was living with his mother and grandmother, basing the story around his own economic struggles and observing the class disparity in South Korea. At one point, he had to sell his laptop for $675 in cash just to survive. Although the premise seemed relevant, Hwang believed the world wasn’t ready for his work. It wasn’t until later that he was convinced the world was ready for Squid Game.

Hwang revealed that the concept of throwing players into childhood games with deadly consequences came about more than a decade ago in 2008. “I came up with which games to use in the story ten years ago,” he explained. “And it was, to begin with the red light, green light game that makes a big impact with shocking mass death. I thought players fighting like warriors using the shapes, which form a ring, would demonstrate the irony of it being a children’s game, as well as the player’s desperation.”

Although it took a while, Netflix finally picked up the show in 2019. Since then, it has been subtitled in 31 languages and dubbed in 13, propelling Squid Game to the top in more than 90 countries with 95% of viewers outside South Korea.