Fincher’s US Squid Game Series Begins Filming in LA

Fincher’s US Squid Game series is set to begin filming in Los Angeles in 2026, with Cate Blanchett confirmed in the cast for Netflix’s spin-off.

Fincher’s US Squid Game series finally seems to be off and running, as a new listing on the Film and Television Industry Alliance website confirms that Netflix's American spin-off is about to enter active production. The highly awaited series, officially titled Squid Game: America, will begin filming on February 26, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. After months of uncertainty, the updated listing is the strongest confirmation yet that the streamer is fully committed to expanding the universe of its biggest global hit.

The production details also reveal the creatives who will help bring the upcoming adaptation to life: Original Squid Game producer Kim Ji-yeon and series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk will both serve as producers in order to ensure continuity with the Korean flagship series. They will be joined by other notable producers like David Fincher, Zeus Zamani, and Rhett Giles. As for the script, it has been assigned to the acclaimed writer Dennis Kelly. At this very early stage, the only confirmed cast member is Cate Blanchett, seen briefly in the Squid Game season 3 finale.

The listing includes a succinct description of the project: "A US version of the Korean hit series, the spinoff is set within the same world, but we get to see how the games are handled in America." That, of course, directly aligns with what people speculated would happen after those final moments of season 3. It also helps to reinforce that Fincher’s US Squid Game series won't be a reboot, but an extension of the universe created in Korea, just shifting that deadly competition to American soil.

Season 3's ending laid the clear foundation for that transition. Gi-hun sacrifices himself for the infant child of Player 222 to survive and win. Then the Front Man escapes with the baby and blows up the island, seemingly ending the games forever. But months later, the finale cuts to Los Angeles, where the Front Man catches Blanchett's mysterious recruiter playing ddakji in an alley. The two share a knowing glance, confirming the American branch of the games is already well underway. Of course, this moment now feels like a direct tease for Fincher's US Squid Game series, all but confirmed with Blanchett as part of that cast.

Still, despite that excitement, fans remain split on just what kind of direction this spin-off is supposed to take: some hope for an entirely new structure and set of games fitting American culture, while others want the series to retain the psychological, class-driven themes that made the Korean original a global phenomenon. Netflix hasn't said if the American story will be similar in format to the original or a new approach entirely. But with Fincher’s US Squid Game series in official motion now, answers are likely to come soon.

The most talked-about involvement remains that of David Fincher. While rumors in 2024 had him directing the series, Netflix hasn't confirmed who is helming the episodes. Still, Fincher's signature dark, precise filmmaking feels like a natural fit for a franchise built around tension, moral conflict, and deadly stakes. And with Squid Game seasons 1–3 still at the top of Netflix’s charts, anticipation for what comes next is rising fast. Moving closer to production, Fincher’s US Squid Game series promises to be among this streamer’s most closely followed originals in 2026.