Squid Game‘s popularity makes the Netflix series a strong candidate for potential spinoffs, and season 2’s most surprising story perfectly sets up the one creator Hwang Dong-hyuk wants to make. Squid Game season 2’s ending has viewers desperate for Squid Game season 3, as the fates of Gi-hun and many other new characters are up in the air heading into the back half of the tournament. However, with season 3 serving as the show’s ending, there are many questions about the franchise’s future beyond that.

Squid Game could easily conclude without continuation, but the Netflix show does lend itself to some interesting spinoff series. For example, one centered on the Front Man could explore the hierarchy of the Games and the villain himself, while a prequel about Oh Il-nam could show the creation of the tournament. However, there’s one specific spinoff that Squid Game‘s creator is interested in, and season 2’s most shocking narrative lays the foundation for it.

Squid Game Season 2’s Guard 011 Story Sets Up A Future Spinoff About The Guards

Squid Game season 2 is full of surprising twists and turns, but Guard 011’s story is probably the most unexpected addition to the series. The second episode of season 2 introduces Park Gyu-Young’s character, No-eul, a North Korean deserter who works at an amusement park and is desperate to reunite with her daughter. Given No-eul’s circumstances, viewers are likely to assume she’ll be a new player in Squid Game season 2. However, the end of the second installment reveals that she’s actually one of the guards.

There are still many questions about their recruitment and employment, and No-eul’s story sets up a Squid Game spinoff that could answer them.

This revelation seemingly answers a huge Squid Game question: who the guards are and why they obediently participate in the competition. Judging by No-eul’s backstory, the Masked Men are also desperate people trying to survive. The Games’ organizers seem to take advantage of this, pitting them against the players and promising an improvement to their circumstances. However, there are still many questions about their recruitment and employment, and No-eul’s story sets up a Squid Game spinoff that could answer them.

And Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told The Hollywood Reporter that, if he were to return to the series’ universe, that’s the spinoff story he’d be interested in telling. After confirming that he views season 3 as the end of the main story, Hwang explained:

“If I ever wanted to go back to the world of Squid Game, it would be about different characters with a different story arc. Some kind of spinoff, maybe. For example, the masked guards. How did they end up here? What do they do in their downtime? Something like that, maybe.”

Would A Squid Game Guards Spinoff Actually Work?

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No-eul’s surprising Squid Game season 2 narrative opens the door for a Masked Men spinoff, but there are questions about how it would work. Although season 2 humanizes the Masked Men, they’re still more complicit in the Games’ terrible system than the players. No-eul bucks this system, which makes her an interesting character. However, it’s hard to say if other Squid Game guards would make compelling leads. Even the main story only works because the greedier players are balanced by more likable, sympathetic competitors.

Needless to say, a Squid Game spinoff about the guards would need to find a way to make its main characters relatable. Otherwise, viewers probably wouldn’t want to follow a story from their perspective. There’s also the matter of what plot a Masked Men spinoff could have. The central conflict would have to be something different from competing in the Games, but it would still need to be twisty and thrilling. These are some of the challenges of expanding Squid Game‘s story, especially when it comes to the guards.