‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ Contestants Spark Legal Showdown Over Injury Claims

By Lara Lindemann  •  24 Nov 2023 in Movies & TV

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Netflix’s controversial new release, Squid Game: The Challenge, is facing a real-life showdown as contestants threaten legal action, alleging hypothermia and nerve damage during the gripping show’s filming. The off-screen drama seems to be just as intense as the nail-biting challenges on the show.

Deadline reported that two contestants, under the representation of a prominent British personal injuries law firm, are gearing up for a legal battle with Netflix and Studio Lambert. The duo claims to have endured not only the mental strain of dodging a robotic menace but also physical suffering in the form of hypothermia and nerve damage during the shooting of the opening game, ‘Red Light, Green Light.’

Express Solicitors, known for their ‘no win no fee’ expertise, asserts that their clients risked more than just elimination in their bid for the grand prize. The contestants allegedly found themselves stuck in painful stress positions amid chilly conditions at Cardington Studios, a former Royal Air Force base in Bedford, during a particularly frosty period in the UK. Netflix acknowledged that three out of the 456 players needed medical attention during the shoot.

Daniel Slade, CEO of Express Solicitors, framed the situation as a modern-day David versus Goliath saga. He remarked, “Contestants thought they were taking part in something fun, and those injured did not expect to suffer as they did. Now they have been left with injuries after spending time being stuck in painful stress positions in cold temperatures.”

Contrary to the contestants’ claims, a spokesperson for Squid Game: The Challenge insists that no lawsuit has been filed and reassures the public that the welfare of the contestants is a top priority.

Back in February, Deadline also reported that the show faced an independent safety inspection following the medical incidents on set. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Britain, after urging producers to adequately plan for risks, concluded that no further action was necessary.

Squid Game: The Challenge made its Netflix debut on 22 November, treating audiences to a suspenseful journey that unfolds over a two-week period until 6 December. The show’s promise of weekly instalments keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, although the exact release schedule for each of the 10 episodes within the three-week timeframe remains unclear for now.

In case you were wondering, yes – this series plunges 456 real contestants into a high-stakes playground, all vying for a jaw-dropping $4.56 million cash prize. Don’t worry, though. There’s no bloodshed (thankfully), and of course, no one meets their demise; they simply face elimination.

The entire Squid Game spectacle unfolds on six colossal stages scattered across London, transforming the bustling city into a nerve-wracking arena for 456 participants, primarily hailing from Britain and the United States. Among them, a distinctive mother-son duo adds a familial twist to the intense competition.

Living and breathing the Squid Game universe for a span of 16 days, contestants are even assigned numbers, don iconic green tracksuits, and bunk down in expansive dorms fitted with towering stacks of beds.

While the audience is engrossed in the unfolding drama on screen, netizens find themselves split on their perspectives, with some asserting their prescience, acknowledging the inherent risks from the series’ inception. Others adopt a more philosophical stance, contending that contestants willingly signed up for the challenges and should face the consequences.

However, not all online voices are in harmony with this cautionary sentiment. Skeptics emerge, labelling the entire uproar as a mere publicity stunt – a strategic move to amplify the series’ hype.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments!