Cate Blanchett's Squid Game Finale Cameo Explained

Netflix’s hit action-mystery TV show Squid Game recently came to an end after season 3, but the cameo in the final moments of the series has audiences and critics questioning the franchise’s future. Cate Blanchett, the renowned actress, appears at the last second, and while it’s not uncommon for high-profile shows to end on a shocking note with a memorable cameo, it’s hard not to theorize about the repercussions.

The Squid Game ending was satisfying, but that doesn’t mean we’re ready to say goodbye to the series quite yet. Even though the game was put to a stop in Korea at the end of Squid Game, Blanchett plays a recruiter in Los Angeles in her cameo, confirming that Squid Game is all over the world, and that there could be more stories to tell.

The Real Reason Cate Blanchett’s Character Was Playing A Korean Game In America

When we first saw Cate Blanchett in the final moments of the Squid Game series finale, it came as a shock. Though Blanchett has been known to lend her talents to many unexpected projects, seeing her as a recruiter and playing Ddakji, which is how the players are found in Korea, sparked many rumors and conversations.

However, the fact that she was playing Ddakji likely has a hidden meaning, as Squid Game is known for its attention to detail and infusing every moment of the story with significance. The Ddakji could indicate that all the versions of the game across the world use Ddakji as a tribute to Il-nam, the creator, and the Korean origins of the game.

How Squid Game’s Final Ddakji Scene Sets Up The Rumored American Spinoff

The American recruiter playing ddakji with a homeless person in Squid Game's series finale

While it would be amazing to see a Squid Game spinoff exploring characters and gameplay in other countries, Netflix hasn’t announced anything yet, and the speculation surrounding an American iteration of Squid Game is pure rumor at this point. However, it’s still fun to speculate about what this new show might look like, and how the finale subtly sets it up.

An American spinoff would be very different from the original Squid Game, but Blanchett’s cameo indicates that there are games happening all over the world, and the use of Ddakji could indicate that they’re all connected. If the next iteration of Squid Game does happen, then the Ddakji scene is the perfect setup to bring fans of the series from across the world into the fold of a new story.

A Squid Game Spinoff Is The Perfect Opportunity To Expand The Show’s Lore

Though Squid Game did a great job of expanding its story and character arcs in each season, there are still many burning questions that audiences and critics have after the conclusion of the series. Though Squid Game began in Korea, its roots in other countries would be interesting lore for potential continuations of the story. A spinoff might follow how it found its way to different locations and the people targeted around the world.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Squid Game (2021–2025)	86%	66%

Many of the rumors swirling around a Squid Game spinoff have hinted that a major American director, namely David Fincher, might be attached to the project. While this could be off base, Fincher has collaborated with Netflix in the past on the crime drama Mindhunter, so there’s a precedent for a director who deals with complex storytelling to join a project like this.

Will Cate Blanchett Return As The Recruiter In The American Squid Game?

Cate Blanchett as the recruiter smiling in Squid Game season 3, episode 6

Officially, Blanchett’s appearance doesn’t hint at Squid Game‘s future, as the director confirmed he wanted a dramatic and impactful performer to take on the final cameo, and thought that having a female recruiter would be the most compelling (via Netflix). As far as Blanchett’s continued involvement in any Squid Game spinoff, there’s no news or concrete reason to believe she’ll be back.

However, Blanchett has discussed the rumors of the American Squid Game spinoff, saying she’s open to anything, and since Fincher is potentially attached, this could be good news as well. Blanchett and Fincher have worked together in the past, and having two such big names with so much talent behind them attached to the future of Squid Game would pave the way for the spinoff’s success.