The creator of Netflix sensation 'Squid Game' says he could contact LeBron James over his complaint that the series ending fell flat, seizing the chance to mention the NBA icon's recent film, Space Jam 2, which was widely panned.
South Korean director Hwang Dong-hyuk's dystopian drama, which imagines people heavily in debt being given a life-or-death shot at redemption via a series of children's games with deadly consequences for failure, has been a runaway hit on the platform, earning an estimated audience of 111 million people since being released in September.
Los Angeles Lakers talisman James has been among the viewers enthralled by the gripping, grim first series, with only one hitch: the four-time NBA champion did not enjoy the surprise ending dreamed up by Hwang, leaving the door open for a second series.
"Yeah, I did finish it," James was seen saying in the immediate aftermath of a press conference, showing himself in the surprise role of TV critic. "You finish it? You watched it? You done?
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LeBron and AD discuss their thoughts on Squid Game and I briefly lose my professionalism pic.twitter.com/HWP1tHi8oK
"I didn’t like the ending, though. I know they start it off with a Season 2, but, like, get on the f*cking flight and go see your daughter, bro. Like, what are you doing?"
Hwank imagined 'Squid Game' as a reflection of societal issues in South Korea and globally, and he might well cheerily shrug off James' jibes.
While 'Squid Game' is said to have had a budget of little more than $21 million and has won almost unanimously positive reviews, Space Jam 2, which was co-produced by James and starred the 36-year-old as a version of himself, faced different extremes.
Despite having a budget of around $150 million, the much-anticipated basketball-themed blockbuster earned a negative reception from more than 90% of critics, according to film reviews site Rotten Tomatoes.
A critic for Fox 4 Kansas City said "we just won't go there" when provided with the opportunity to assess James' acting, and a top English analyst called the film "wretched" while admitting he had struggled to stay awake when he saw it.
“Have you seen Space Jam 2?” a laughing Hwang asked the Guardian when he was probed on James' remarks.
Yeah I understand that. And Bron does bring a lot of things to social media when he doesn’t have too. But it’s not like Bron hated on the show he just questioned why the main character didn’t go see his daughter. I think most people were thinking the same thing.
The exchange earned a mixed reaction among fans, with many suggesting that James' words had been misinterpreted and amplified out of proportion.
"He literally only said that because he’s a family man and didn’t want the dude [main character] to pick the Squid Game over his kid or family," said one. "It’s really not that deep, Hwang."
Another may have been referencing James' taste for trumpeting his social justice concerns on his platforms when he argued: "Bron does bring a lot of things to social media when he doesn’t have to.
"But it’s not like Bron hated on the show – he just questioned why the main character didn’t go see his daughter. I think most people were thinking the same thing."
Others were more succinct and cutting. "LeBron was right," agreed one, adding that "the ending did suck", while another called the forward "misinformed about the show."
Another laughed: "This is funny because I couldn’t even get through the 2nd act of Space Jam 2. It was so bad."
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