Netflix is reportedly no longer moving forward with a US spinoff of its global hit “Squid Game,” according to multiple entertainment outlets. The project, described with the working title “Heckler,” is said to have been dropped after years of development, with “Heckler” no longer in development at the streamer. Netflix has not officially confirmed the decision.
Reports say Hollywood director David Fincher was attached to direct, while Dennis Kelly—creator and writer of the British series “Utopia”—was set to write the script. One outlet notes that Netflix had planned production and filming in the U.K. amid a broader period of industry interest in American adaptations of Korean titles. Another account links the slowdown and eventual halt to shifting corporate priorities, including changes in Netflix leadership and the time it took to move the project forward.
As part of the development history, coverage also points to Fincher’s shifting schedule, including his focus on other productions. Together, the reports depict a project that loses momentum as internal priorities change and key talent redirects attention.
