That shocking finale coda of Hwang Dong-hyuk’s Squid Game series left many curious about what it meant for the American spin-off Netflix has in the works. When the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) pauses next to an alley in downtown Los Angeles, you witness, along with him, the Squid Game recruitment ritual being administered by a new face: Cate Blanchett , wearing a suit and offering up the Ddakji slaps.

It’s hard to believe the Academy Award-winning actress was only recruited for a one-off cameo right after she claimed to be retired . In an interview with Variety , Blanchett discussed how the guest role came to be and what it might mean for her future in the franchise. “Because it’s such a cult series and they were shooting in L.A. of all places, everyone was on a need-to-know basis,

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