456 real-life individuals have been battling it out to be crowned the winner of Squid Game: The Challenge. Competitors had flown in from as far as the United States and Australia for the show, with only one contestant able to take home the huge $3.63 million cash prize. 

In a trailer released on Friday ahead of next week's finale, the three remaining hopefuls, identified by numbers 016, 287, and 451, will face the last challenge. The clip begins with one contestant saying, "We've come so far to get here, and now... this is it." Another contestant explains, "It's like a pack of wolves trying to get the last piece of meat," and someone else adds, "Money changes people sometimes." 

A total of 456 players, mirroring the number in the original series, participated in the show, which was filmed at Cardington Studios, a former RAF base near Bedford. Many contestants were eliminated in the first round and stayed in bunk beds at the studios, similar to the setup in the Korean series. In the original series, numerous financially strained participants accept an invitation to compete in children's games for a tempting prize, but the stakes turn deadly. 

Brandon Riegg, Netflix's vice president of unscripted and documentary series, previously commented on the reality program, saying, "'Squid Game' took the world by storm with [director Hwang Dong-hyuk's] captivating story and iconic imagery. We're grateful for his support as we turn the fictional world into reality in this massive competition and social experiment. Fans of the drama series are in for a fascinating and unpredictable journey as our 456 real-world contestants navigate the biggest competition series ever, full of tension and twists, with the biggest-ever cash prize at the end." 

The reality series will comprise ten episodes, one more than the original thriller. The TV production company behind the show, Studio Lambert, has faced previous accusations of permitting 'inhumane' working conditions and allegations of mistreating staff on prior reality programs. 

Some individuals working on the popular Gogglebox series have reported a toxic culture in which staff were required to work long hours without breaks. The trade union BECTU, which represents film production workers, received complaints from staff regarding their treatment. 

One staff member expressed their dissatisfaction, stating, "People have had enough. You don't turn up to be screamed at for 12 hours a day." BECTU indicated that they promptly requested a meeting with the company responsible for numerous contestant-led shows, including the BBC series 'Traitors' and 'Race Across the World.' 

"Squid Game" became Netflix's most-watched program in 2021, attracting 142 million viewers in its first month. This figure was nearly double the previous record held by "Bridgerton." 

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