Squid Game: The Challenge isn’t that realistic as player spills behind-the-scenes details Thu 30 November 2023 08:25 Yasmine Leung
William Burgess Squid Game: The Challenge has replicated the original Netflix hit pretty accurately – on-screen that is. In reality, the filming conditions were allegedly much different than presented on TV.
Squid Game: The Challenge brings the hit drama to life but thankfully, the 456 competitors aren’t actually sacrificing their lives for the record $4.56 million cash prize. While the unbelievable jackpot is real, the Netflix show is still a production, meaning everything is not what it seems off-camera. Players have shared their first-hand experiences after viewers criticized one woman for giving up within minutes.
How long was Squid Game: The Challenge filming?
While challenges last for just minutes on-screen, contestants have revealed that filming could take up to a grueling eight hours.
Melissa Rimsza – who was Player 326 – has shared behind-the-scenes secrets from the show on TikTok.
Speaking of the first challenge, Red Light, Green Light, She explained: “Red Light Green Light did not take five minutes like it looks like in the show. I think that the last round of people to make it through ended up playing for almost eight hours. I was playing for about four-and-a-half.”
She added: “But every single time that they stopped the clock – I mean, we were standing there for between 20 and 45 minutes.”
Filming allegedly stopped for long periods to thoroughly check the movement of players.
@lil_thee_boyReplying to @e #greenscreen i wish it only took five minutes 😭😭 #squidgame #squidgamethechallenge
♬ Pink Soldiers – 23
456 players were reportedly only handed one tracksuit. They were given extra underwear but you can imagine how soiled the green costumes could’ve been.
Player 385 mocked for failing squat in Red Light Green Light
Red Light Green Light required competitors to run to the finish line within five minutes. The catch? Freeze whenever the giant horrifying doll turns around. Any movement would be recognized, meaning Player 385 was in trouble after she decided to squat.
After about 20 seconds of squatting, the female star can be seen questioning the compromising position and admits she is in immense pain. She soon decides to quit and is subsequently shot by black paint, therefore eliminating her.
Viewers took to Twitter to mock Player 385 for failing to hold the position, with some even calling her “weak”.
“This girl on this Squid Games show really gave up and sat down because she couldn’t hold a squat for 30 seconds. FOR 4 MILL? girl. u p***** me tf off,” one wrote.
Another similarly added: “Girl how can u not hold a squat for a damn minute… MILLIONS OF DOLLARS are at stake. I gotta laugh.”
Cut her some slack – we now know that she was squatting for much longer than one minute.
@netflixidKalo main Tak Jongkok, mbaknya pasti udah jadi juara. #Netflix #SquidGameTheChallenge#RealityShow#385
♬ original sound – Netflix Indonesia – Netflix Indonesia
Conditions were like a ‘cruel warzone’
Filming took place in the UK’s winter temperatures in January 2023, which allegedly caused players to collapse and one was even “stretchered away”, claims The Sun.
Players told the publication that Red Light Green Light was hosted in -3C temperatures (26.6F), calling conditions “like a warzone”. “People left in tears,” they said.
According to Express Solicitors, they are working with contestants to help them seek compensation for injuries they suffered during filming. Injuries reportedly include “hypothermia and nerve damage as a result of poor health and safety standards on set.”
Netflix and production companies Studio Lambert and The Garden denied the alleged concerning conditions, writing: “We care deeply about the health of our cast and crew and the quality of this show. Any suggestion that the competition is rigged or claims of serious harm to players are simply untrue.”
“We’ve taken all the appropriate safety precautions, including aftercare for contestants – and an independent adjudicator is overseeing each game to ensure it’s fair to everyone.”
TikToker Rimsza pointed out that while filming duration and conditions were unexpected, players were allowed to leave the game at any point.
GRV Media and Reality Titbit have reached out to Netflix for comment.
