Several contestants on the Netflix reality show Squid Game: The Challenge reportedly required medical assistance on the first day of filming in the UK as temperatures reached freezing point.
According to Variety, the players were among 456 contestants taking part in a round of Red Light Green Light – the popular start-and-stop children's game – at a former aeroplane hangar north of London, where temperatures reached a low of zero degrees Celsius on Monday.
British tabloid The Sun spoke to multiple players who revealed the cold, harsh reality of playing the game in freezing conditions. "Some people couldn't move their feet because it was so cold," said one source. "You could hear someone yell 'medic' and the crew would rush on."
Netflix enlisted contestants from across the globe to take part, so some were likely less accustomed to colder weather than others. However, it's believed that fewer than five players required medical attention, and they were all treated for minor accidental injuries or mild ailments.
In a statement shared with Variety, a spokesperson for Netflix said: "We care deeply about the health and safety of our cast and crew, and invested in all the appropriate safety procedures. While it was very cold on set — and participants were prepared for that — any claims of serious injury are untrue."
Netflix Spotlight: January 2023
The unscripted game show will feature a series of challenges inspired by the original show as well as "surprising new additions," encouraging players to form alliances and deploy unique strategies in order to make it through and be in with a chance of winning the hefty $4.56 million prize.
The reality show is one of several Squid Game projects in the works. There are plans for a satirical comedy about the creation of Squid Game and its unprecedented popularity as well as a potential third season of the flagship show to follow Season 2 and further expand the universe.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.