David Fincher may not be ready to confirm it himself, but all signs point to his next major Netflix project finally taking shape. A new listing from the Film and Television Industry Alliance quietly revealed that “Squid Game: America” is gearing up to begin filming February 26, 2026—the clearest production update we’ve seen since the project was first reported last year.
Netflix, unsurprisingly, isn’t commenting. Casting details remain locked down. And no, despite that final Season 3 cameo, Cate Blanchett will not be part of this new series. Her “special appearance” in the Season 3 finale appears to have been more of a narrative nudge toward the franchise’s global expansion rather than a setup for this spinoff.
Not a Remake — a New Chapter
“Squid Game: America” is not reimagining the original series for U.S. audiences. Instead, it’s a standalone expansion of the world Hwang Dong-hyuk built, with an all-new cast and storylines. Dennis Kelly, creator of Utopia, is penning the scripts, while Fincher’s level of involvement—particularly whether he’ll direct the full season—remains unclear.
Still, Hwang has already given the project his full blessing. Netflix, meanwhile, continues to build out the franchise following the global success of its first three seasons, which still hold the title as the most-watched series in the streamer’s history.
Fincher’s Busy Netflix Era
Fincher’s schedule is tight. The director is currently finishing production on The Adventures of Cliff Booth—a Tarantino-scripted spinoff of Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood starring Brad Pitt—which shoots until December. With cameras set to roll on Squid Game: America in February, he’ll only get a short window before diving into another ambitious project for the streamer.
Fincher’s relationship with Netflix spans more than a decade, thanks to a long-term exclusive deal. Across House of Cards, Mindhunter, Love, Death + Robots, Mank, and The Killer, he has become one of the platform’s most valuable filmmakers—and this new series continues that streak.
Release Date? Not Anytime Soon.
With filming beginning in 2026, the most realistic release window for Squid Game: America is 2028. If Netflix follows the franchise’s usual schedule, a holiday or end-of-year drop is the most likely scenario.
Until then, all three seasons of Squid Game are streaming now, and The Adventures of Cliff Booth is reportedly targeting a Summer 2026 debut with Netflix planning a major rollout.