Netflix officially sets new crime thriller series with Squid Game & Marvel stars

Netflix is capitalizing on the Squid Game fame with their just-announced crime series.

Squid Game remains one of Netflix's most successful non-English-language television shows of all time, with viewership numbers even rivaling some popular English-language TV shows. The series debuted in 2021 to glowing reviews, and ended its run with three seasons and spinoff reality show to its name. The Squid Game cast included Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon, Lee Byung-hun, and Park Hae-soo.

Now, Netflix has officially confirmed a new crime thriller series featuring a Squid Game star. The series will be a Korean crime drama show with the working title Paper Man, starring Squid Game's Park Hae-soo in one of the lead roles. Other cast members announced include Cho Jung-seok and Claudia Kim. The series will be directed by Lee Il-hyung.

According to Netflix's description, the series will focus on the story of a worker, Cha Myung-jo, employed at a company that produced imitation character stickers. Myung-jo's life takes a sharp turn when he accidentally produces an extremely realistic-looking counterfeit banknote, leading him down an unexpected path of crime.

Park is recognizable to Netflix viewers from his time on the series Squid Game. He is mainly in Squid Game season 1, where he plays Sang-woo, one of protagonist Gi-hun's childhood friends. After both fall into financial troubles, the pair reunite in the deadly games, leading to an unforgettable finale moment which deservedly helped earn Park an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

Park is not the only well-known actor coming to Netflix's Paper Man. Kim's work has also reached international audiences, most notably via the Marvel film Avengers: Age of Ultron. She has also played roles in Hollywood movies like The Dark Tower and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, as well as the Netflix K-drama Gyeongseong Creature.

Paper Man represents part of Netflix's continued effort to prioritize Korean-language content on its platform. 2026 alone has seen a plethora of Korean titles, including My Royal Nemesis, The WONDERfools, and Business Proposal, among others. The streamer still has a busy slate to come, with Paper Man joining the mix.

Apart from the fact that it is a K-drama releasing in an era when such content is more likely to succeed on Netflix, Paper Man has a lot going for it. Any Squid Game connection has been proven to elevate shows, and a recognizable season 1 character like Sang-woo is sure to draw appeal from these audiences. The Marvel connection only further elevates an already built-for-success Netflix K-drama.

Disclaimer - All celebrity-related content, information, and images on this website are based on publicly available online sources and AI-generated insights/data. Information such as biography, age, career, personal details, and images may change without notice over time. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or timeliness of any information or imagery displayed on this website. This content is provided for general informational purposes only.