Lee Jung-jae leads the Squid Game Season 2 cast as seven actors, including breakout stars and returning favorites, eye 2025 Emmy nods.
The deadly games may be over on screen, but the Squid Game Season 2 cast is preparing for another high-stakes competition—this time at the 2025 Emmy Awards. Netflix is officially submitting seven actors from the global hit for Emmy consideration across four major acting categories.
At the top of the list is Lee Jung-jae, who is looking to recapture the magic of his Season 1 win for Best Drama Actor. Lee returns as Seong Gi-hun, aka Player 456, the unlikely champion of the first season. He currently sits at No. 9 in the Gold Derby odds for Best Actor, the highest among the Squid Game contenders, making him a notable player in this year’s race.
Also making a return is Lee Byung-hun, who reprises his ominous role as the Front Man. He’s being submitted in the Supporting Actor category alongside two of Season 2’s biggest new stars. Choi Seung-hyun, who plays the disgraced rapper Thanos (Player 230), and Park Sung-hoon, who portrays Hyun-ju (Player 120), a heroic trans ex-soldier, are both looking to break into the awards conversation for the first time.
On the Supporting Actress front, Netflix is backing Kang Ae-shim, who plays the fiercely protective mother Jang Geum-ja (Player 149), and Park Gyu-young, who takes on the role of Kang No-eul, a skilled North Korean defector determined to save her daughter at any cost.
Rounding out the submissions is Gong Yoo, who makes a memorable return as the mysterious Recruiter in a showcase guest episode. Netflix is entering him into the Guest Actor category.
Despite their strong performances, none of the Season 2 actors are currently projected to land nominations, according to Gold Derby’s Emmy forecasts. Still, Squid Game is expected to remain a contender in the Best Drama Series category—keeping its legacy alive after its historic Emmy run in 2022.
The show’s first season made a seismic impact at the Emmys, scoring 14 nominations and winning six, including Outstanding Lead Actor for Lee Jung-jae. Other cast members recognized included Oh Young-soo, Park Hae-soo, Jung Ho-yeon, and Lee You-mi, whose memorable characters didn’t survive past the first season.
While this year’s Emmy fate is still uncertain, the Squid Game squad is once again ready to play.
