Squid Game Season 4 or Squid Game: U.S.? Cate Blanchett's surprise cameo changes everything

By: Shawn
‎A global icon just joined the world’s deadliest game. Cate Blanchett made a surprise appearance in the final moments of Squid Game Season 3, instantly shifting the franchise’s direction and teasing a potential U.S. spinoff or an unexpected Season 4.
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‎Cate Blanchett enters the Squid Game universe in a shocking Season 3 finale cameo — and the games are headed to the U.S. next. Is Season 4 coming?
‎AppleTV+
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‎The Oscar-winning actress was spotted in the finale’s last scene, set far from the neon-lit corridors of Korea. On the streets of Los Angeles, Blanchett’s mysterious character plays ddakji — the infamous slap-and-invite game — with an unsuspecting American target. The chilling moment not only echoes the series’ origin but expands the Squid Game universe across borders.
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‎Blanchett’s brief but powerful appearance marks a potential turning point for Netflix’s most-watched series. Known for her roles in TÁR, Blue Jasmine, The Aviator, and most recently Disclaimer and Black Bag, Blanchett brings gravitas and global attention to the franchise’s next evolution. She’s also known for working only with high-caliber auteurs, suggesting a serious creative vision behind this U.S. storyline.
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‎Netflix has not confirmed whether Blanchett’s scene will lead to Squid Game: USA, a fourth season, or a limited series continuation. However, the surprise cameo supports mounting rumors that the streamer has long planned a global expansion of its signature dystopian thriller. Industry chatter suggests Netflix sees Squid Game as a multi-market juggernaut — and Blanchett’s casting only fuels expectations.
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‎Fans were already reeling from Season 3’s intense finale, which concluded Gi-Hun’s emotional journey and brought down the curtain on the original Korean arc. Yet the Blanchett twist reframes that ending entirely. It appears the show isn’t concluding — it's evolving.
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‎Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, who won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for the original season, has yet to confirm his involvement in any future installments. Whether the potential U.S. storyline is guided by him or a new creative team, Blanchett’s inclusion strongly suggests Netflix is investing in prestige-level storytelling for its next phase.
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‎The franchise’s global appeal makes this pivot a logical next step. With U.S.-based contestants, culturally specific moral dilemmas, and new economic themes to explore, Squid Game is primed for an American chapter. Blanchett’s character could represent a new class of game master, or perhaps a deeper network behind the front men.
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‎Whatever lies ahead, fans are left with one undeniable truth: the game isn’t over. It’s just beginning again — on American soil.

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