Squid Game Season 3 stars finally react to the surprise Cate Blanchett cameo in the finale

Squid Game Season 3, released on 27th June 2025, continues the South Korean survival thriller created by Hwang Dong-hyuk for Netflix. The show follows 456 desperate players who risk their lives in deadly versions of children’s games to win a life-changing cash prize.

The first season arrived in 2021 and became a global success. Season two was released in 2023, where Gi-hun came back on a mission to destroy the games. Squid Game Season 3, which premiered on June 27, 2025, concluded with Gi-hun’s sacrifice.

But the biggest shock came in the season's final moments, a surprise appearance by Cate Blanchett. Only Lee Byung-hun knew about the cameo, and the rest of the cast saw it for the first time when Netflix released their reactions online.

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Squid Game season 3 ending shocks cast with Cate Blanchett cameo

The final episode of Squid Game Season 3 ended on a shocking yet realistic note. Gi-hun gave up his life to make sure Jun-hee's newborn baby won the game and did not have to die. Meanwhile, the Front Man, In-ho, traveled to Los Angeles to give Gi-hun’s daughter the prize money he had originally won.

As In-ho walked away from the scene, he noticed someone in an alley playing ddakji, the same game he used to recruit players. To viewers' surprise, the person playing was none other than Cate Blanchett, giving him a chilling smile that suggested the deadly games had spread to America.

This unexpected twist surprised not only viewers but also the main cast, who had no idea about Cate Blanchett’s role. Lee Byung-hun, who plays In-ho, was the only one who knew. Netflix posted a video on Instagram of the cast reacting to the clip of Blanchett's cameo. In the clip, we can see Lee Byung-hun say,

“I won’t tell,”

Lee Jung-jae, who plays Gi-hun, was stunned. He asked,

“Is this real?”

Other cast members like Yim Si-wan (who plays Player 333), Jo Yuri (who plays Player 222), and Kang Ae-sim (who plays Player 149) were equally surprised. Jo Yuri asked excitedly,

“Does this mean I did a series with her?”

Lee Jung-jae looked completely shocked and said,

“If I had known she was coming, I would have joined them for the shoot.”

Lee Byung-hun shared what filming was like that day. He said,

“The traffic and crowd were hard to control. So we didn’t even get to say hi. We just shot our scenes separately.”

The cameo was more than just a celebrity moment; it hinted that something bigger might be in the plans. There is a general speculation now that Cate Blanchett’s character is teasing a possible Squid Game America spin-off.

It has been in talks that director David Fincher might lead such a project. The final scene seems to set the stage for a new chapter. However, nothing has been confirmed. Netflix has not announced a spin-off, and series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk hasn't confirmed anything either. Still, Blanchett’s brief appearance in Squid Game Season 3 had a strong influence. It is suggested that even though the games were stopped in Korea, they are continuing and expanding elsewhere.

The cast’s honest reactions made the reveal even more exciting. Just like the fans, they were caught off guard by Cate Blanchett’s cameo. Whether Squid Game America becomes reality or not, it’s clear the world of Squid Game is not limited to South Korea and has more stories to tell.

Squid Game Season 3 is streaming only on Netflix.

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