Shooting the Red Light, Green Light challenge for Squid Game: The Challenge took many hours. This famous game, which kicked off the whole competition, needed a lot of careful planning to keep all 456 contestants safe and keep the plot exciting.
Shot in one of Europe's biggest indoor spots, the challenge was set up to bring the same thrill and suspense as the original show. Contestants had to stay perfectly still during the Red Light moments, which could last a while.
Filming was not just a logistical challenge but also a memorable experience that pushed their endurance and determination over the long day of shooting.
Squid Game: How long did Red Light, Green Light take to film?
The Red Light, Green Light challenge in Squid Game: The Challenge was a task in itself, taking around six to eight hours to shoot. Contestants mentioned the Red Light parts could drag on for a while, making the whole thing even more intense.
One participant, named Bryton, told TODAY.com:
“You are in there from the moment you go to sleep to the moment you wake up. And then if you go film a challenge, you get to leave for however long and then come right back. You’re in that room all day.”
The competition was shot over 16 days, starting with the Red Light, Green Light game as one of the first challenges. The contestants felt the heat and realism of the game, making it a challenging but unforgettable experience for everyone.
How many people survived Red Light, Green Light in Squid Game?
In the famous Red Light, Green Light scene from Squid Game, 456 players start the game, but only 197 make it through. The challenge is intense – players must race to the finish line and freeze whenever a giant doll's head turns. If they don't stop in time, they're out, eliminating many of them.
The setup for this challenge was enormous. The production team used Cardington Studios in the UK, which is over 100,000 square feet, so there was plenty of space to keep everyone safe. They handed out hand warmers and had medics ready just in case.
Even though the vibe is super intense, Squid Game: The Challenge ensures that all the "deaths" are fake so contestants don't get hurt. This is a big difference from the original show, where people died.
A spokesperson for the show told Deadline:
“No lawsuit has been filed by any of the Squid Game contestants. We take the welfare of our contestants extremely seriously.”
Is the new Squid Game: The Challenge scripted?
Squid Game: The Challenge is mostly a reality show where people compete to win the massive cash prize of $4.56 million. Netflix says the competition is not scripted, but some parts of the production have made viewers wonder how real the gameplay even is.
Some critics and contestants have said that the results seemed rigged, especially in the finale, where the setup of the final game raised eyebrows. There were accusations that the producers picked certain players for critical rounds to make the story more exciting. However, Netflix insists that independent judges oversee all the games to keep things fair.
So, even though the show is not scripted like a regular TV show, the way it's produced and edited makes it hard to tell what is real and dramatized.
You can catch Squid Game: The Challenge on Netflix—all the episodes dropped at once on November 22, 2023.
