Squid Sport creator Hwang Dong-hyuk is now an Emmy winner. At Monday night time’s ceremony, the sequence creator picked up the best-directing-for-a-drama-series prize, nabbing a key statuette for his hit sequence.
“I wish to thank the TV Academy for this honor and in addition an enormous thank-you to Netflix,” he mentioned in his speech, particularly shouting out streamer boss Ted Sarandos. “I discussed your title, okay?” the present creator joked, drawing large laughs as Sarandos watched on from a desk within the viewers.
Previous to Monday night time’s ceremony, Squid Sport was already a four-time Emmy winner, selecting up Inventive Arts Emmys in classes like finest visitor actress for Lee Yoo-mi. The present was nominated for a historic 14 Emmys in whole, together with in main classes like finest drama, appearing, and writing. “We made historical past collectively,” Hwang mentioned to the present’s followers and to Academy voters.
Squid Sport was an prompt international hit when it first dropped on Netflix practically one yr in the past, capturing the zeitgeist with its bloody skewering of capitalism and the grotesque hobbies of the superrich. Stylistic and excessive, the sequence revolved round a bunch of gamers with severe monetary issues competing in a lethal recreation for a large money prize, roughly the equal of $35 million. Squid Sport assembled a razor-sharp group of stars, together with breakouts equivalent to Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, and Hoyeon, all of whom have been nominated at Monday night time’s ceremony. Lee received his class shortly after Hwang, selecting up the best-actor-in-a-drama prize over nominees together with Bob Odenkirk, Jason Bateman, and Jeremy Robust.
“Thanks to director Hwang for making [this show] come to life so creatively on the display with an amazing script and wonderful visuals,” he mentioned. Lee then switched to Korean, with a translator delivering his closing remarks in English: “Thanks to everybody watching in Korea.”
Squid Sport’s wins come as no shock, because it was one of many yr’s favored nominees. Within the directing class, the sequence was up towards reveals together with Succession (one other of the extremely favored nominees) and Severance.
Hwang’s success at Monday night time’s Emmys is the fruits of an extended, hard-fought journey. The present’s creator, who additionally wrote and directed every episode, was informed that the present wasn’t lifelike to promote when he pitched it as a characteristic movie in 2009. It wasn’t till 2019, simply earlier than the coronavirus pandemic erupted and threw dire socioeconomic points into the highlight, that Netflix lastly gave Squid Sport the greenlight. “It was a really unusual expertise, as a result of what appeared so unrealistic on the time didn’t really feel as unrealistic anymore,” Hwang informed Vainness Truthful in Might.
Hwang touched on the present’s affect and reception in his acceptance speech. “I actually hope Squid Sport received’t be the final non-English sequence to be right here on the Emmys,” he mentioned. “And I hope this received’t be my final Emmys, both!”
Stay Updates From the 2022 Emmys
Succession vs. Squid Sport, Ted Lasso vs. Barry, and naturally, red-carpet trend. Comply with the updates.
