ÉTAT HER

David Fincher's English-Language "Squid Game" Spinoff Is Dead as Netflix Pivots to Local Adaptations

David Fincher's much-anticipated English-language "Squid Game" spinoff, "Heckler," has reportedly been scrapped by Netflix. Years into development with a writer and shooting location already locked in, the project ultimately fell victim not to creative issues, but to a shift in the platform's overall strategy.

David Fincher's English-Language "Squid Game" Spinoff Is Dead as Netflix Pivots to Local Adaptations

A show billed as the "American version" that the crew planned to shoot in the UK — that mismatch was baked into "Heckler" from the start. According to The Playlist, Netflix has officially pulled the plug on the English-language "Squid Game" spinoff long developed under David Fincher, code-named "Heckler." Once considered the most anticipated expansion of the entire IP, the project has now come to an end.

The writer attached was Dennis Kelly, creator of "Utopia," who has a history with Fincher — their previous collaboration on an HBO adaptation of "Utopia" also collapsed before filming began. This time, "Heckler" made it as far as a completed script and a confirmed shooting location, yet still couldn't escape the same fate, making it in some ways the duo's second unfinished project together.

According to the report, the shutdown wasn't the result of a single decision but rather a slow grind of attrition: multiple leadership changes at Netflix, combined with Fincher himself shifting focus to other projects — including his collaboration with Quentin Tarantino, "The Adventures of Cliff Booth," set to hit IMAX this Thanksgiving. All of these factors compounded, gradually pushing "Heckler" further down the production priority list.

More critically, Netflix has reportedly changed its overall vision for the "Squid Game" universe. Rather than expanding the IP through a single American-led series, the platform is now shifting toward developing localized spinoffs for different countries. In other words, "Heckler" wasn't just shelved — it became the first casualty of this new strategic direction.

Much of the buzz around this project actually stemmed from a single shot in the original series finale: Cate Blanchett appearing as an American recruiter in a Los Angeles scene, which fans widely interpreted as setup for Fincher's spinoff. Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has repeatedly denied any connection between the two, and The Playlist's report now confirms there's no evidence Blanchett was ever actually attached to the "Heckler" cast — even though she herself had previously expressed openness to returning to the franchise.

Related

The Mental Trick Michael Stipe Passed On to Thom Yorke: Stop Caring, and So Will They
Culture

The Mental Trick Michael Stipe Passed On to Thom Yorke: Stop Caring, and So Will They

Speaking with Harry Styles, Thom Yorke recounted a 1995 tour memory in which R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe pulled him out of his backstage dressing room to share a mindset for handling the pressures of fame.

A Quarter-Century Full Circle: The Chemical Brothers Head Back to Open'er's Main Stage
Culture

A Quarter-Century Full Circle: The Chemical Brothers Head Back to Open'er's Main Stage

With a fresh round of lineup reveals, Open'er Festival 2027 confirms The Chemical Brothers as a main-stage headliner on July 1, 2027, marking precisely 25 years since their breakthrough victory at the festival's first-ever 2002 edition. Also joining the bill are Ellie Goulding and ADÉLA.

Health Scare Sidelines Art Garfunkel: UK Tour Dates Pulled
Culture

Health Scare Sidelines Art Garfunkel: UK Tour Dates Pulled

A respiratory infection diagnosis—caught during a rehearsal checkup the 84-year-old nearly skipped—has forced all four stops of his October UK tour to be pushed back, with venues now scrambling for new dates.

What to know | Cece Natalie's New Song "Flood Whole Towns" MV: She Kills Herself Off, Refuses to Be the Hero of Her Own Story
Culture

What to know | Cece Natalie's New Song "Flood Whole Towns" MV: She Kills Herself Off, Refuses to Be the Hero of Her Own Story

The key details: Cece Natalie teamed up with director Hannah De Vries to craft a medieval-fable-style MV that ends with her own death; the single, co-produced with Aaron Shadrow, deliberately drops Autotune to preserve a deliberately "unpretty" tone.

Three Years in the Making: Paul Banks Teams Up with Liars' Aaron Hemphill on a New Berlin-Based Band
Culture

Three Years in the Making: Paul Banks Teams Up with Liars' Aaron Hemphill on a New Berlin-Based Band

Having relocated to Berlin, Interpol's Paul Banks joined forces with Liars guitarist Aaron Hemphill to launch a new project tentatively named Berlin Project. Three years of work have gone into the album, slated for release next year, though a record label has yet to be secured.

Bodega Left New York Behind — Recording Album Four Inside a Leeds Church
Culture

Bodega Left New York Behind — Recording Album Four Inside a Leeds Church

Out today, *All Inside Aquarium* marks Bodega's first album made away from home turf. Frontman Ben Hozie opens up about outgrowing the "post-punk" tag, a dream visit from his late mother, and where he stands on the Geese controversy.