David Fincher is out of the game: Netflix canceled the American "Squid Game" - Media

The director switched to "The Adventures of Cliff Booth" based on Quentin Tarantino's screenplay.

Netflix has ceased development of the first "Squid Game" spin-off, which David Fincher was supposed to direct. This was reported by The Playlist, citing sources close to the director. The project had been in development for several years under the working title Heckler and was conceived as an American version of the Korean series, although filming was planned to take place in the UK.

During the development period, Netflix underwent a change in leadership and altered its plans for the future development of "Squid Game." This slowed down the development of Heckler, and Fincher moved on to other projects, including "The Adventures of Cliff Booth," based on a screenplay by Quentin Tarantino.

Now, according to sources, Netflix is considering a different strategy for the franchise's development – separate versions of "Squid Game" for different international markets. France and Norway are mentioned among possible directions, but specific projects have not yet entered production.

Sources also clarified that Cate Blanchett's appearance in the finale of the original "Squid Game" was not related to Heckler. The actress played an American recruiter in Los Angeles, which many viewers perceived as a setup for an American spin-off, but Fincher's project was developed without Blanchett's involvement or her character.

Fincher is currently finishing work on "The Adventures of Cliff Booth" starring Brad Pitt. The film will have a limited release on November 25, 2026, and will be available on Netflix on December 23.