Netflix has given a series order for the South Korean crime thriller, Round Six, which will be produced by the award-winning Korean director Hwang Dong-hyuk. The drama’s synopsis describes the series as focusing on a group of survival game players who all have the opportunity to win $10 million— the series being another entry in Netflix’s ongoing acquisition of Asian television properties for the past three years.
Korean-American actor and model, Daniel Henney, will be the star of the upcoming series. He is best known for his work in films such as 2006’s Seducing Mr. Perfect, 2007’s My Father, 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine and 2014’s animated feature, Big Hero 6. His television includes the k-drama My Lovely Sam Soon as well as US television series Hawaii Five-0 and Criminal Minds for which he joined as a regular cast member in 2014.
Hwang’s feature film debut (My Father), was also another project he collaborated on with Henney and was based on the true story of Korean-American adoptee Aaron Bates. The film’s plot revolved around a U.S. Army soldier who after being stationed in Korea, appears on national television to search for his birth parents, but unfortunately discovers his father is on death row for murder.
Netflix’s Round Six follows a several people “who fail at life for various reasons, but suddenly receive a mysterious invitation to participate in a survival game to win $10 million. The game takes place at an unknown location, and the participants are locked up until there is a final winner.” Sources have noted that the show incorporates a popular 1970’s/1980s Korean children’s games that is simply known as the “squid game.” Usually described as a game of tag, each player is suppose to move in a squid-shaped field drawn in the dirt during each of their turns.
“I’m already thrilled at the prospect of introducing Round Six to a global audience through Netflix,” Hwang mentioned to South Korean news outlets recently. “I also have high expectations for the great collaborative work I’ll be having with them.” Netflix currently hasn’t released an official premiere date for Round Six, but has mentioned the series will be available worldwide once it debuts.