Move aside Squid Game: Netflix's Korean thriller Hellbound is set to be the next big hit

 

The supernatural thriller sees unearthly beings suddenly materialise to murder and condemn criminals to hell.

Anew Korean drama has knocked Squid Game out of its No 1 spot on Netflix. Described as a genre-bending thriller, Hellbound is set in a fantastical world where supernatural beings suddenly materialise to murder and condemn criminals to hell, giving rise to a religious cult whose leader is played by popular actor Yoo Ah-in.

The supernatural series premiered on the streaming service on Nov 19.

On Netflix's weekly Top 10 list, released every Tuesday, Hellbound ranked No 1 on the Top TV (Non-English) global list, with more than 43 million hours viewed for the week of Nov 15 to Nov 21. In Singapore, it's the No 1 watched TV show on Netflix.

Hellbound has six episodes and is based on Train To Busan director Yeon Sang-ho's webtoon of the same title. Apart from Yoo, the series stars Kim Hyun-joo, Park Jeong-min, Won Jin-ah and Yang Ik-june.

Squid Game is now No 3 on the global list of top Non-English TV shows and is in its tenth week on the Top 10 list. Since its September release, the nine-episode thriller in which cash-strapped contestants compete in childhood games in order to win 5.6 billion won (US$38.58 million), has become Netflix's biggest original show launch ever. 

Writer-director Hwang Dong-hyuk has already confirmed that a second season of Squid Game will be made. "I'm going to go ahead and say there will be a second season, but as for when, I cannot tell you now," he said earlier this month.