Steven Spielberg feels the heat of squid game fans online after commenting on the show’s cast during a panel.
On Saturday, Spielberg spoke about the hit Netflix show during a PGA Awards panel. According to Deadlinethe director applauded the Korean drama for changing the industry.
“squid game comes along and completely changes the math for all of us,” Spielberg said. He thanked Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, who was seated in the audience.
“A long time ago, it was the national stars who brought audiences to the cinema,” he added. “Today is interesting [that] strangers can play in whole mini-series, can be in movies.
The remark came during a conversation about the importance of high-profile stars in casting and how digital streaming services have created space for unknown actors to successfully anchor shows and movies. .
While the West Side Story director praised the most-watched show on Netflix, fans were quick to point out that the squid games the cast is, in fact, very well known.
The show stars Lee Jung-jae as the main character, Gi-hun, Park Hae-soo, famous model Hoyeon, Anupam Tripathi, Wi Ha-Joon, and Kim Joo-Ryung, to name a few- one. Fans pointed out that even though these actors aren’t well known to Western audiences, many of them are very well established in South Korea and have the awards to prove it.
They believe that Spielberg’s comments come from a very US-centric point of view.
“Argggg more ethnocentrism thanks to Americans who can’t see beyond their own borders,” one person tweeted. “What a series like squid game illustrate is the exact opposite: that people around the world are happy with content other than English/White/American entertainment.
Argggg more ethnocentrism thanks to Americans who cannot see beyond their own borders. What shows like Squid Game illustrate is the exact opposite: that people around the world are happy with content other than English/White/American entertainment.https://t.co/T2jM0Y9Ns3 https://t .co/clXfkmeyXk
— Raphael Rashid (@koryodynasty) March 22, 2022
Others say people miss the meaning of the director’s commentary.
I know why people call Spielberg but they miss the point. Yes, the actors were big stars in South Korea and all over Asia, but they were mostly unknown to domestic audiences, but the show was still highly watched despite that, he’s righthttps://t.co/ E924Tv6LFF
—Josh Rom (@JoshRomOnAir) March 22, 2022
Either way, his remarks certainly created an online discussion. Here is more reaction from squid games Fans.
Correction: “Squid Game” proves that Hollywood has fallen far behind in recognizing and celebrating the long-standing storytelling and talent of South Korean film and television. https://t.co/G2J36f9cbc
—Nancy Wang Yuen (@nancywyuen) March 23, 2022
People, today’s whitest take, brought to you by Mr. Steven Spielberg and the LITERAL all-star cast of “Squid Game” https://t.co/Lq2Oko8yJ6
— Holly Christine (@_HollyChristine) March 22, 2022
Korea: Producing Movies and TV Shows Loved by Other Countries for Two Decades in a Row
Hollywood: it feels good to see these random people who came out of nowhere being offered a platform by us ☺️ https://t.co/nEMW2nNfih
— Hyunsu Yim (@hyunsuinseoul) March 22, 2022
Steven Spielberg is actually happy for the stars of Squid Game because he thinks that if filmmakers have the freedom to choose the best cast for their movie, any movie could be a great movie.
I hate how IndieWire twisted Spielberg’s words like he was a self-centered person. https://t.co/qeWroZCUma pic.twitter.com/VDgkeVDlAP
—Vincent Irving (@vincent_irving) March 24, 2022
Squid game director and cast: *very well-established people in South Korea*
Steven Spielberg: Unknown https://t.co/syGJI4MP4r
— 🏳️🌈 ThePixelPunch 🏳️🌈 (@ThePixelPunch) March 23, 2022
Fortunately, due to its immense popularity, squid games Season 2 has been confirmed, so if you didn’t know the cast, you definitely know them now!
