How to Get Cast on ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’

Modeled after the fictional series, “Squid Game: The Challenge” allows real contestants to battle it out for $4.56 million—the biggest prize in reality TV history—during a 10-episode competition filmed in the United Kingdom. 

From games derived directly from the show itself—who can forget that killer rendition of Red Light, Green Light?—to new challenges designed especially for the reality spinoff, the 456 global contestants will have their work cut out for them. 

While we don’t know if the competitors are just as financially strapped as their fictionalized counterparts, we can confirm their worst fate will be walking away empty-handed (even if there have been reports of “inhumane” conditions while filming!).

The streamer stays true to the original drama, meaning there are 456 contestants for each season. This is the largest cast reality TV has ever seen, according to the show’s casting website.

Credit: Pete Dadds/Netflix

With a hefty task, Netflix’s “Squid Game: The Challenge” seemingly established a wide-ranging team of casting directors and producers to gather 456 players. Erika Corbin, Robyn Kass, and Ian B. Connor are among those names attached to Season 1.

As Kass told KXNET, the team worked together to seek out contestants from areas that have seemingly gone underrepresented in reality television over the years. “I’ve been in reality TV for 15 or 20 years and I can’t even think of somebody who I have cast in North Dakota,” she said. “So all of us sat around at the beginning and said what are those places, what are those areas. We want to make sure we get people to represent every state in the country.”

Despite ominous YouTube videos that evoke the vibes of the K-drama itself, the casting process for “Squid Game: The Challenge” appears to be right in line with what you’d expect from a reality TV program. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the show’s official casting page, which features applications for U.S., U.K. and global prospects. Anyone over age 21 can register interest using one of the aforementioned subsections. You’ll essentially need to provide the same information you would on an actual application, including:

• Your contact information (name, location, D.O.B., email address, etc.)
• A one-minute video that describes who you are, why you want to compete, how you would overcome your competition, and what you would do with the prize money (make sure your phone is in landscape mode, you’re sitting in a well-lit space, and that all filters are off while recording)
• A recent headshot/photo of yourself sans accessories (hats, sunglasses, etc.)

You can then specify if you’d prefer to be considered only for future seasons of “Squid Game” or if you’d like to add your name to Netflix’s overall contributor database, putting you in the running for all reality TV shows that Netflix might have coming down the pipeline.

Ahead of Season 1’s finale, Netflix confirmed that the hit reality game show is getting another season. “There was no red light in our decision to greenlight Season 2 of ‘Squid Game: The Challenge,’ the most ambitious unscripted show we’ve premiered at Netflix,” says Netflix VP of Nonfiction Series Brandon Riegg. “We’re so excited to continue the franchise of ‘Squid Game’ with our team in Korea, and producers at Studio Lambert and The Garden for this epic competition series.”

As mentioned, “Squid Game: The Challenge” Season 2 is currently casting. You can apply either to our direct casting call or submit a form on the show’s official casting page. For those interested in other reality TV casting calls, you can always bookmark this roundup of shows casting now. Or, check out our open reality TV and Netflix auditions for more active notices.

On the “We Have the Receipts” podcast, casting director Erin Tomasello—who has worked on Netflix’s “The Circle,” ABC’s “The Bachelor,” and NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”—advised that the best approach is to simply be yourself. 

“The thing that comes through the most [to casting directors] is when you're just true to yourself. You're genuine, you're open, you're sharing things about you…and not trying to be what you think we want,” she said. “Every individual has their own spin. And together as a cast is what makes that so special. We don't want everybody to be jumping off a wall.” 

Michael Heyerman, SVP of unscripted original series at Endemol Shine North America, reinforced to Parade that you should be willing to share your story. 

“The number-one thing you want to see when casting a show is someone you can root for, someone genuine that you can really invest in. Casting varies so much from show to show depending on what the overall creative is, but ultimately what you really want is someone that people can get behind and feel good about cheering for,” he said.

In the end, CDs can tell when you’re faking your way through the process, so stand firm in your truth. 

You should “be as authentic as you can through the casting process,” Shyam Balsé, SVP of unscripted original series at Endemol Shine North America, told Parade. “Reality shows are about interesting, real people, and if we can’t get a sense of who you really are, we won’t pick you.”