Contestants taking part in a real-life Squid Game show have received medical treatment during filming, according to Netflix. The streaming service is producing a reality series based on the hit South Korean drama that broke records for the company in 2021.
The streaming giant said “claims of serious injury are untrue” and that three people were treated for “mild medical conditions.” The game show is being filmed in the UK at Cardington Studios, a former RAF base in Bedfordshire.
A Netflix spokeswoman told the BBC that medics were on set at all times and that it had “invested in all the appropriate safety procedures.”
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“While it was very cold on set – and participants were prepared for that – any claims of serious injury are untrue,” Netflix said. “We care deeply about the health and safety of our cast and crew."
The reality show – titled Squid Game: The Challenge – sees 456 contestants competing for a $4.56m (£3.8m) prize, with tasks inspired by the hit series. Players will also reportedly sleep in bunk-beds inside an airplane hanger in a similar vain to its predecessor.
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The hit drama series Squid Game centred on a host of debt-ridden contestants who compete in a series of deadly children’s games in a bid to claim a huge cash prize. It proved a hit for Netflix when it dropped in September 2021, and became the company’s most-watched series of all time.
It was streamed by 142 million users worldwide in its first 28 days on the platform, with 1.65bn hours viewed. A second series was announced in June last year, with Netflix confirming plans for a 10-episode reality show the same month.
Squid Game: The Challenge is set to have the “largest cast and lump sum cash prize in reality TV history,” according to Netflix. Filming began earlier this month, with people travelling from around the world to take part.
Announcing the series, Brandon Riegg, Netflix vice president of unscripted and documentary series, said: “Squid Game took the world by storm with Director Hwang'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.”
The East of England Ambulance Service said it had not attended any calls at the studios in recent days, BBC reported.
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